Higher education Commission (HEC), the federal body responsible for regulating and funding higher education institute is adamant in not accepting its mistake regarding depriving Balochistan of its due share.
According to the Annual reports issued by HEC itself, this federal body has failed to provide Balochistan anywhere near its due quota in PhD Scholarships, foreign and Indigenous Scholarships, Development Grants and other HEC resources.
This issue has been taken up by Civil Society Balochistan and Education department of Balochistan and both have criticized HEC for its wrongdoings. Rather than accepting its mistake the officer bearers of HEC are denying the facts out rightly.
What HEC officials fail to realize is that this entire case is based on data extracted from the annual reports of HEC. By denying this report HEC is effectively denying the report published by itself.
The News, a leading English daily of Pakistan, also carried the story of HEC case and the reaction from HEC to that report again was that of denying the report without any valid arguments.
Senator Mir Kabir of National Party and Senator Hafiz Hamdullah have also issued statements in this regard. Senator Kabir has even filed an application for a motion to discuss this issue on floor of the senate.
There is overwhelming evidence that HEC has deprived Balochistan from its due share in all of its resources that it has distributed to the provinces over the years. This issue has been taken up by very strong stakeholders in the form of government of Balochistan, Senators and Civil Societies. HEC can’t get away with this issue by simply denying the report.
The need of the hour is that HEC and its officials admit the blunders that they have committed with regard to resource distribution of Balochistan. After that they can devise a formula on how to compensate Balochistan for its lost share. If HEC officials do not admit their mistake then will not be doing anything but wasting time of the students in Balochistan who can attain quality higher education if HEC provides Balochistan its due share in all of its resources.
Issue of HEC is crucial for the all people of Balochistan. Higher Education is backbone for socio-economic development of any society. Balochistan can only develop when its students can get quality education and return back to serve their province. HEC scholarships are one of the most effective ways for them to attain quality higher education. Unfortunately, HEC has been under-providing Balochistan with such scholarships and it’s in a way preventing Balochistan from development. This is just one way in which this case is significant for people of Balochistan.
So, far this issue has received substantial and encouraging response from different walks of society. However there are still certain people and groups who have not uttered a word on this issue. Members of Provincial Assembly of Balochistan need to raise this issue on floor of Balochistan Assembly and demand justice for Balochistan. Similarly, major political parties of Balochistan including Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), PML-N and other smaller parties have to raise voice on this issue against HEC.
Respectable Chairman and other top officials of HEC need to understand that it’s the era of latest technology which makes it difficult for anyone to get away with even small mistakes let alone blunders. There is no chance that HEC can simply deal this matter by denying the facts. They need to do more and have to compensate Balochistan for its lost share.
Lastly, this issue has also reignited the debate for need of provincial higher Education Commission in Balochistan which is also must. Balochistan Voices will surely raise this issue once current HEC resource distribution issue settles down.
Editor
Balochistan Voices
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