ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training unanimously recommended to the Law Division on Thursday to take necessary steps to ensure uniform compliance with women’s representation across all relevant entities.
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, held a comprehensive and outcome-oriented meeting on Thursday, focusing on critical reforms in governance, gender inclusion and performance accountability within the federal education sector.
A key agenda item was the enforcement of 33% women’s representation across all Federal Boards, statutory bodies, public sector organisations and affiliated committees, as referred by the Upper House. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) briefed the committee on its existing composition, revealing a gender imbalance with five male and two female members on the board. Taking serious notice, the committee directed immediate corrective measures, and it was agreed that the board composition would be restructured to include four male and three female members. Committee Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt expressed strong dissatisfaction over the systemic underrepresentation of women in decision-making forums, terming it unacceptable in a modern governance framework.
The committee also reviewed the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training’s 2025-26 budget, noting that 15 development projects worth Rs15,799.92 million have received Rs14,269 million. The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission is executing two projects worth Rs5,328 million, with Rs4,486 million disbursed, while the proposed PSDF for 2026-27 was also presented.
Future plans include a Daanish School at Sohbatpur (Rs23,100 million, completion by June 30, 2028). Progress in digital initiatives, school solarisation of upto 200 schools was noted. It expressed concerns over infrastructure gaps, including 187 laboratories requiring Rs 1 billion, and a shortage of 1,200 teachers. It directed the HEC to fill up the vacancy through the Federal Public Service Commission. The committee also addressed degree attestation issues affecting Al-Khair University and Global University students, directing the Higher Education Commission to resolve the matter urgently and operationalise its help desk.
