The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has not considered or recommended the removal of Pakistan Studies from degree programs.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Murtaza Solangi, clarified to the Senate on Monday in response to concerns raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed about the potential exclusion of Pakistan Affairs from undergraduate syllabi.
Solangi emphasized that the ministry and the HEC have not issued any directives to eliminate this or any other course at the graduation level. He assured that HEC’s undergraduate policies maintain minimum standards, allowing universities to adhere to their legal frameworks independently.
Moreover, Solangi highlighted the introduction of a new course combining elements of Pakistan Studies and the Constitution aimed at all undergraduate programs. This initiative represents a comprehensive approach to education about Pakistan’s ideology and constitutional principles. Additionally, he mentioned ongoing consultations to develop a mandatory two-credit-hour course for undergraduates.
Senators, including Walid Iqbal, Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Fawzia Arshad, Sania Nishtar, Syed Waqar Mehdi, and Ali Zafar, have advocated for the prompt restoration of Pakistan Studies. They suggest the newly introduced course on Pakistan’s Ideology and Constitution could serve as an additional chapter in the existing curriculum, reinforcing the subject’s importance.
