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Islamabad: A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage, and Culture, chaired by Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi, took place at the Project Coordination Unit in Islamabad. The committee addressed several educational issues and deferred consideration on three legislative proposals for a future session.
According to a statement by National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee postponed discussion on “The Reservation of Special Seats for Deserving Persons in Universities Bill, 2024,” “The Westminster University of Emerging Sciences and Technology Bill, 2024,” and “The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2024.” However, it recommended approval for the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2024.
The committee expressed concern over the status of teachers in Islamabad, highlighting that many have been teaching on daily wages for years at a salary of Rs. 37,000 per month. While some have been regularized, challenges remain with delayed posting orders. The committee called for a fair and comprehensive regularization process.
The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) was instructed to prevent private schools from charging exorbitant fees and to ensure teachers receive salaries that reflect their qualifications. The committee also highlighted safety concerns for students using school transport services, irregular fee structures, and curriculum disparities in private schools, urging PEIRA to enforce stricter regulations.
PEIRA reported that, as of 2025, there are 1,509 registered private educational institutions, with a total enrollment of 392,279 students. The authority has set up a Complaints Cell to address grievances efficiently, processing over 8,000 complaints to date.
The committee was briefed on the Actions to Strengthen Performance for Inclusive and Responsive Education (ASPIRE) program, which aims to improve educational outcomes in underprivileged districts through financial grants to provincial governments. By year’s end, PKR 24 billion will be allocated for educational reforms under this initiative.
The meeting was attended by various Members of the National Assembly, including Dr. Azim-ud-Din Zahid Lakhvi and other officials, alongside the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission.
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