The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the vacant Pakistan chairs abroad since 2008. The Committee which met here with Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui in the chair was apprised that a total of 14 Chairs had been vacant since 2008 under different nomenclatures such as the Quaid-i-Azam Chair and Allama Iqbal Chair, Chairs in Urdu and Pakistan Studies. The Chairman Committee deemed the matter ‘criminal negligence’ and stressed the need for an in-depth probe of the matter, so that those responsible for this apathetic attitude may be taken to task. The Committee was informed that out of the 14 just six Chairs were advertised due to budgetary constraints and the selection process was completed in 2021 wherein a panel of three scholars was selected for Cambridge University. The process was terminated by the University and the Ministry was directed to re-advertise the position as per their set of procedures. The Committee was informed that Chairs for Urdu and Pakistan Studies are currently vacant in China, Egypt, Germany, USA, UK, Turkey, Hong Kong, Iran, Jordan, Nepal and Kazakhhstan. The Committee stressed the need for stringent action against this negligence that has held back the softer side of the country. Deliberating over the matter, Chairman Committee Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui directed that the Ministry submit a comprehensive report regarding the issue in the next meeting. Discussing the recent clashes between student groups at Quaid-i-Azam University in light of the briefing by Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, Vice Chancellor of the said university, the Committee stressed the need to investigate the matter in detail and ensure that the root cause be ascertained. Chairman Committee Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui welcomed the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University and assured him of the Committee’s all out support. Deeming the need for the revival of Student Unions in Universities, Chairman Committee Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui was of the view that grouping must be based related to educational interests and on national heroes in place of ethnicity. This he said would play an important role in diffusing ethnic fault lines and infusing in students a sense of national unity. Chairman Committee Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui directed Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar to formulate a Commission and submit a detailed report to the Committee on the causes of the issue and recommendations of ways that it can be curbed. The need for the construction of a boundary wall around the University Campus was stressed by Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar to ensure security.