Islamabad (Digital Post) The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt

By: Rana Taimoor.

Islamabad (Digital Post): The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, convened to evaluate key educational developments, proposed legislation, and budgetary plans. The meeting brought together several senators, including Falak Naz, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Kamran Murtaza, Rahat Jamali, Khalida Ateeb, and Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, along with representatives from relevant departments.

A central point of discussion was the Proposed Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2025–26, with a special focus on the establishment of the Center of Excellence for Autism in Islamabad’s H-9/4 sector. The committee was informed that the project has a total estimated cost of Rs 2,730.709 million, with Rs 2,336.000 million earmarked for the upcoming fiscal year. The facility, expected to be completed within 24 months, aims to provide comprehensive care and education for children with autism. Senator Butt emphasized that such institutions must meet international standards and called for additional resources if needed to ensure the delivery of world-class services.

The committee also scrutinized nutrition standards in educational institutions, particularly those operated by the Allah Walay Trust. Senator Butt requested detailed reports on the menu and nutritional value of the meals being served. She insisted that nutrient-rich food should be non-negotiable, stressing the importance of proper justification for the dietary plans in place.

The committee reviewed updates on various ongoing and new development schemes. Among these were projects focused on digital transformation for employability in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, valued at Rs 978.186 million, and the introduction of school support specialists in 100 schools to provide education on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and climate change, with a budget of Rs 423.469 million. Other initiatives included the establishment of laboratory institutions in both rural and urban areas, and the operation of 500 non-formal hybrid primary schools and Accelerated Learning Program (APL) centers in Karachi’s slum regions to address the issue of out-of-school children.

Ongoing programs such as the enrolment, retention, and progression of out-of-school children in Islamabad Capital Territory were also assessed, with the project budgeted at Rs 978.000 million and scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025. The committee also reviewed the planned Daanish School in Kuri, Islamabad, which carries a projected cost of Rs 30,020.142 million and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.

Legislative matters were also taken up. The Private Member Bill titled “The Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendment) Bill 2024” was deferred, pending final review by the Ministry. Senator Butt called for the involvement of the Islamic Council of Ideology in the consultation process and directed that the final report be submitted within two weeks.

Concerns over delays in the issuance of degrees by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) were raised again. Senator Butt noted the severe impact on approximately 25,000 students who have fulfilled all academic and administrative requirements but have not yet received their degrees. She stressed that if even 10,000 of these degrees could be processed and issued promptly, it would offer substantial relief. Many students, she added, are victims of institutional fraud and find themselves caught in an unjust system through no fault of their own.

The committee also discussed the issue of the law college affiliated with Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) in Khairpur, raised by Senator Kamran Murtaza. The matter was deferred to a future session, with the committee deciding to summon all stakeholders, including students and the university administration, to examine the affiliation concerns in greater detail.

Additionally, two university-related bills were postponed due to the absence of their movers. These included the University of Business Sciences and Technology Bill 2025, proposed by Abdul Shakoor, and the Nexus International University of Health, Emerging Sciences and Technology Islamabad Bill 2024, tabled by Nasir Mehmood.