Expressing serious reservations over massive cut in Higher Education Commission (HEC) budgetary allocation for year 2019-20, the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas Tuesday summoned the federal secretaries of education and finance ministries with relevant record.

The committee was briefed by the secretary Pakistan Medical Commission on the reserved seats in medical and dental colleges for the students of Balochistan and formerly Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) across the country. The meeting was also briefed on the status of budgetary allocations for the HEC and the public sector universities.

The secretary Pakistan Medical Commission informed the panel that 4 seats in all public sector medical and dental colleges have been approved and notified over and above the existing quota for the students of Balochistan and erstwhile FATA. He added that 29 seats were already available and 236 seats (4 in each of the 59 colleges) have been added on the recommendation of the committee. The committee appreciated the swift action taken by the Pakistan Medical Commission for better opportunities for students of less developed areas.

While discussing the budget allocation and its utilization so far under each head of HEC for the current financial year and proposed budget demands for next year, the committee was told that Rs 62.8 billion were allocated in 2017-18 and Rs 65 billion in 2018-19, while Rs 103.5 billion were demanded for 2019-20 but HEC was allocated Rs 59.1 billion which is 45 % less than demand and 9.5 % less than last year's allocation. Out of Rs 59.1 billion, 40% (Rs 23.6 billion) have been given to HEC and most of it has been utilized.

The committee was told that most of the universities don't have money even for salaries and pensions for the next quarter due to the budget curtailment and are going in deficit. The committee decided to hear finance and education ministries in next meeting on the matter and also asked for details of deficits faced by all universities across the country.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Usman Kakar here at the Parliament House on Tuesday and was attended among others by Senators Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Nighat Mirza, Kalsoom Parveen, Anwar Lal Deen, Gianchnad, Sarafarz Bugti and Moulvi Faiz Muhammad, deputy secretary National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, secretary Pakistan Medical Commission, and director general Higher Education Commission.