ISLAMABAD, April 16: Speakers at a seminar here on Monday called upon the government to increase budgetary allocations for the education sector to boost socio-economic development in the country.

The seminar “Current challenges for higher education in Pakistan” was jointly organised by Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences and the National Language Authority (NLA).

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Aslam Syed pointed out key challenges being confronted by the higher education sector and said. “Without prioritising education, we can’t compete with other educational systems which have been adopted by developed world and even some developing countries.”

Educational institutions need to be protected from external pressures. He, however, commended the existing higher education infrastructure in the country which enabled the students to get access to digital resources worldwide.

Dr Aslam said universities should have to create conducive environment for innovation, research and strong linkages with other institutions of higher learning.

Stressing the need to increase budgetary allocations for the education sector, Dr Sohail Naqvi, the executive director of Higher Education Commission (HEC), said current spending on the higher education sector was 0.18 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic product).

Dr Masoom Yasinzai, the vice chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), expressed concerns over the low budgetary allocations for education sector and said continued support from the government was required to achieve optimum level in education.

He said the government should prioritise education and allocate at least four per cent of the GDP for it.