HEC online degree verification system for students

HEC to initiate online verification system
Islamabad, Jan 15: Higher Education Commission (HEC) has planned to soon initiate online verification of degrees of students intending to visit abroad for further education. This was stated by Member Operations and Planning HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmad.

The commission would verify degrees and certificates of students intending to get admissions abroad, in Pakistani universities or for getting jobs through online procedure, he said.

He admitted that the recent raise in degree and certificate attestation fee is causing financial burden on people coming from far flung areas. But the commission is compelled to increase attestation fee due to financial reasons, he said.

In 2002, he said there was no fee for attestation as it was not the requirement at that time.

Thousands of people were visiting the commission for attestation of their degrees even when they didn't need it. Majority came at the last moment without proper documents creating hurdles for the staff.

Now after increase in charges, he said the staff would get genuine applicants who really need attestation.

Referring to the reasons of non-release of HEC funds, he said it is not only happening in HEC but in other organisations and institutions across the country due to prevailing financial crunch.

The recurring budget has been issued but the development budget is yet to be released by finance ministry. In the first quarter, HEC got 15 per cent of the total budget, 7.5 per cent in the second but the third phase has been delayed which has caused shortfall.

As many as 4,000 students studying abroad are unable to meet study expenditures due to delay in funds. Various institutes are facing such difficulties but the issue will be resolved soon, he said. The News

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'New scientific disciplines to be introduced at edu institutes'
Islamabad: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that he planned to undertake the national initiative on the frontier of science and technology to introduce the new scientific disciplines of 21st century like synthetic biology, nano-technology and artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics in Pakistan's educational institutions.

He said this in a meeting with Prof K.Tahir Shah of Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics & University of Trieste's Faculty of Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Modeling, Italy on Wednesday.

The PM urged Prof Shah for submission of a concept paper for the creation of human and scientific infrastructure for these technologies in Pakistan, so that the HEC, Ministry of Science and Technology and other premier educational institutions could deliberate it upon. The PM said that through this process, he would be able to take the decision for setting up an institute in Bahauddin Zakaria varsity, Multan for starting the classes in these disciplines.

He expressed keenness to build a nucleus of Biologists, Bio-Physicists and Computer Scientists in the country with a view to train and equip them with expertise to create patterns and products. He said he was fully mindful of the importance of scientific research and its industrial application in making the country competitive in this age. He also discussed with Prof Shah the possibility of arrangement of funding for Pakistan's scientists and researchers abroad. The PM recalled that his family had always remained in the fore front in pursuing the educational cause by setting up numerous institutions of excellence in learning and that he would like to carry on this tradition through this initiative of introduction of modern scientific disciplines in Pakistan.

He directed his personal staff for arrangements of Prof Shah's meetings with Special Assistant to the PM on Social Sectors and Chairperson of HEC, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology and heads of premier educational institutions for fine tuning the details of this initiative so that it can materialise in the near future. The Nation

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FPSC to hold professional test
Islamabad: Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) will hold professional, screening tests from January 18 to 24 for various posts across the country.

The test for the post advertised in Commission's consolidated advertisement nos. 12/2008 to 16/2008 and two cases (No. F.4-259&260/2008-R) of Advt. No 21/2008 would held simultaneously at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Dera Ismail Khan, Gilgit, Multan, Sukkur and Gujranwala, said a news release issued here Wednesday.

The admission certificates along with syllabi and time table for tests of these post have been dispatched to all the candidates by registered posts and e-mail, where feasible. No candidates will be allowed in the examination hall without admission certificates.

For further details, the candidates can visit FPSC website: www.fpsc.gov.pk or contact on phone nos. 051-9212331 and 9205075/241. The News

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