KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has increased 58 seats for students of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the public-sector universities of Sindh.

He took this decision on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting of the university & boards department at CM House.

The meeting was attended by adviser on law Murtaza Wahab, secretary of universities & board Alamuddin Bullo and others.

The chief minister was told that there were 25 public-sector universities in Sindh including medical, engineering and general, in which AJK and GB had 162 seats.

Presently, AJK and GB have two seats each in University of Jamshoro, three seats each in NED University, two each in Mehran University of Engineering, 10 each in Dawood University, two each in Shah Latif University Khairpur.

AJK has seven seats in Agriculture University, Tando Jam and GB has four seats and they have 34 combined seats in University of Karachi.

After the fresh approval, AJK will have four more seats and GB 11 more seats in Sindh University, five each in NED, three each in Dow University, 13 each in Dawood engineering university, one each in PMC Shaheed Benazirabad, four each in Shah Latif university, Khairpur. In Mehran University, AJK will have five more seats and GB four seats.

Similarly, AJK will have seven seats and GB eight more seats in Agriculture university Tando Jam. They will also have 50 combined seats in Karachi University.

CM meets HEC chairman

The chief minister said the provincial government will be conducting monitoring and evaluation of universities working under its charter while accreditation would lie with the federal Higher Education Commission (HEC).

“However, a joint work plan may be drafted jointly by provincial governments and the HEC which will be floated in the Council of Common Interest for approval,” he added.

This he said while speaking to HEC chairman Tariq Banuri who met him at CM House.

The chief minister said that after 18th amendment the provinces had established their provincial higher education commissions.

He said the federal government had its own HEC, therefore bifurcation of work and roles needed to be ascertained.

The chairman appreciated the chief minister for his interest to find out a workable solution of a deadlock between the two HECs.

US envoy meets Murad

Chargé d’affaires of the US Mission to Pakistan Angela Aggeler called on Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

She was accompanied by US Consul General in Karachi Rob Silberstein.

The CM while exchanging views with the visiting diplomats said that the recent heavy rains had turned thousands of people homeless in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas division.

He thanked the donor agencies and USAID that supported the people.

The visiting guests assured the chief minister that the US government would be supporting Sindh in health and education sectors.

War Course delegation meets CM

A 226-member delegation of the National Defence University participants in National Security and War Course led by Air Vice Marshal Sabahat Hussain called on Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House.

The PMDC and Higher Education Commission had granted permission for enhancement of 58 seats in nine public sector universities of Sindh while the permission for remaining 16 universities are in the process.

The chief minister briefed the visiting delegation about development projects of the government.

He also answered questions of the delegation members.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2020