Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training could not conclude the matter pertaining to the issuance of no objection certificate (NOC) to Sir Syed-CASE (Centre for Advance Studies in the Engineering) Institute of Technology for the establishment of a university. However, the committee assured to issue an NOC after resolving all outstanding issues related to the said institute.

The Sir Syed-CASE Institute of Technology Islamabad is currently working as an allied institute of University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, whereas the administration of this institute wants to establish a full-fledged university. Earlier, an NOC in this regard was issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which expired in 2013.

In the meeting, the matter once again came under discussion before the NA committee that whether the NOC should be issued or not to the Sir Syed-CASE Institute of Technology. Committee was informed by the relevant departments that the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and the CDA had some concerns regarding the present location of the institution.

The representative of the Sir Syed-CASE Institute of Technology, Professor Dr Shoaib Khan briefed the committee about the issues which institute has been facing for getting an NOC to convert it into a university. While highlighting the role of institute, Dr Khan said, “We are contributing to education, research and technology for the last 15 years and our institution is competing with the best universities of the world.”

He further stated: “Our PhD scholars are teaching in the best engineering universities of Pakistan.” He complained that the institution got NOCs twice in past but now the HEC is raising the concerns for the issuance of a fresh NOC.

Dr Shoaib Khan told the committee that the institute had already purchased 300 kanals land near Rawat outside the capital and also assured the committee that they will move if they succeed to get the NOC for establishment of the university.

On the other hand, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad while appreciating the role of Sir Syed- CASE Institute of Information Technology in education sector, informed the committee that the NOC issued by the commission in past to establish a university was valid till 2013 and now the institute needs to get it again after resolving all concerns in this regard.

The Chairman apprehended that the Sir Syed Memorial Society was going to start a university in joint venture with Engineering Education Trust (EET), which would not be in favour of students in the long run as in the past we have many experiences in which students have to face difficulties after breaking of such ventures”.

Amirullah Marwat, Chairman of the committee told the representative of Sir Syed-CASE Institute of Information Technology that the committee had no objection on the establishment of the university by joint venture but you have to settle it with the consultation of Ministry of Education and the HEC.

The committee also raised the question that Capital Development Authority and Chief Commissioner Islamabad are not willing to permit the Institute to establish the university in the Red Zone as it would create security problems in the capital.

Minister of State for Federal Education Engineer Baligh-ur-Rahman said that the present building of the institute was reserved for the transfers and promotion of the ideas and thoughts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan among the young generations. He marked that the building should be reserved for the same cause and the university should establish its campus outside the Red Zone to avoid objections by the ICT administration and the CDA in future.

While talking to the Daily Times Director Public Relations of the HEC Aysha Ikram told; “the commission considers that the Sir Syed-CASE Institute of Information Technology does not have enough structure to obtain a charter for an autonomous university as even they don’t have their own campus.” She further briefed; “the committee directed the institute to resolve all issues by taking the HEC and the Ministry of Education on board.”