ISLAMABAD: It seems as if there are two different laws in the country’s higher education sector as the Finance Division has notified MPhil allowance but declared it not admissible for them who hold degrees equivalent to MPhil. Many are irked over such kind of discriminations against them. As per notification, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Times, the finance division on January 4 this year issued a notification pertaining to the M.Phil allowance of Rs 2500 per month for the employees serving in the federal government departments and public sector academia. “The employees concerned possess an educational qualification equivalent to M.Phil degree duly recognised by the HEC will be allowed M.Phil allowance of Rs 2500 of the existing amount of PhD allowance that is tantamount to this amount,” reads the notification. However, it is clearly mentioned in the notified letter that the employees who have degrees other than M.Phil are not deserving for this sort of incentive. “Other degrees or qualifications weather having HEC equivalence or not, is not admissible,” it stated. The employees who have MS degrees are annoyed by this discrimination. They said that if they are being provided equivalency from the HEC, then barring them from this sort of benefit is sheer discrimination. “It shows that there are two laws for the same group, they said adding that the HEC and the Finance Division should review this policy. Mamoona Kukab, a federal government servant told this correspondent that in following the notification she, with the approval of her departmental head, applied for M.Phil allowance in the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) as it is her right. But the AGPR rejected the file with the objection that the equivalent degree holders are not eligible for this benefit. Kukab did MS in plant pathology from Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), said that this is discrimination against her, adding that if MS did not have a status of M.Phil then why the HEC was issuing equivalencies in this regard. Another such affected person Khawar who holds PhD and is teaching in a publicsector educational institute said that despite repeated rounds to the offices concerned, he is still looking for this sort of benefit. “The Director Education rejects my request seeking M.Phil allowancetime and again without informing me the valid cause for rejection”, heregretted. The officials said that the government servants in Punjab and KP whofulfil such qualification, were getting Rs 5000 per month from 2007whereas the federal government approved half of this amount thatis also restricted for several persons. An official in the HEC, who wished not to be named, said that it wasjust a source to torture the wretched candidates. Nothing more except this, he alleged. The Director Media Finance Division, Abdul Waheeed, told this scribe thatthe division just issues the funds to all public sector departments as per their requirements. As far as the issue is concerned, he said the HEC forwards the initial draft/summary in this regard and the division just approves them on priority basis. “The Finance Division has nomore function then this while providing any kind of allowances to the deserved persons,” he said. When the HEC media wing was approached to know the actual facts about thisissue, it said that the HEC provides equivalence certificate declaring MS degree equivalent to MPhil, but on individual basis. “The commission did not declare equivalency in general for all.Instead, it securitises each degree as per prescribed parameters. Inthe security, the Commission thoroughly studies that either the candidates who are applying for equivalence have least 1.5 years study(with minimum 30 credit hours) after completing 16 years of educationor not,” it said.