HED to evaluate sub-campuses of private varsities.

Byline: Imran Gabol

LAHORE -- Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) accreditation committee on Thursday constituted a four-member committee to physically inspect 23 sub-campuses of private universities in different areas of the province and submit its evaluation report within 30 days.

The meeting of the committee was held at Arfa Kareem Tower late on Wednesday and it was attended by HED Secretary Sajid Zafar Dall, Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairperson Prof Dr Fazal Ahmed Khalid, representatives of private universities and federal Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The meeting participants briefly discussed the issue of declaring 23 sub-campuses being operated by several private universities illegal and directed their respective administrations to immediately stop the intake of student at their unauthorised campuses.

Earlier, HED secretary had written two letters to the chairmen of the board of governors of the private universities and rectors/heads, listing the illegal sub-campuses and directed them to stop the intake of students.

The private universities operating illegal sub-campuses are the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore; the National College of Business Administration and Economics (NCBA and E), Lahore; the Hajvery University, Lahore; the Qarshi University, Muridkye; the University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore and the Superior College, Lahore.

According to the HED, the UMT was operating an illegal sub-campus in Sialkot in violation of Section 5(2) of the University of Management and Technology Act 2004 and the department under Second Schedule of the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011 asked the varsity to stop the intake of students at the illegal sub-campus.

Similarly, the NCBA and E was found to be operating illegal sub-campuses in Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Sialkot and Rahim Yar Khan; the Hajvery University in Sheikhupura, the...