The National Assembly Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) met today at 11:00 a.m. in Committee Room of Ministry of SAFRON, S-Block, Pak-Secretariat, Islamabad under the Chairmanship of Mr. Sajid Khan, MNA.
The meeting started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. The Hon. Chairman, Standing Committee welcomed Members of the Committee and other Participants. After confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting, the Committee proceeded to Agenda Item No. 2 and the Secretary Ministry of SAFRON briefed the Committee regarding implementation status of the previous recommendations of the Committee.
While considering Agenda Item No. 3 the Committee expressed its concern on non-compliance of the recommendation passed by the Committee in its meeting held on 7th January, 2021 regarding issuance of notification for doubling of seats for students from erstwhile FATA in Medical and Dental colleges for the remaining period of 08 years once for all in compliance of the Cabinet decision on 2nd March, 2017. The representative of Khyber Medical University (KMU) informed the Committee that “we have no powers to enhance the seats however we can send recommendations to HEC”. The representative of Higher Education Commission (HEC) apprised the Committee that 36 additional seats for erstwhile FATA (KPK) already have been increased and the issue is resolved. He further informed that HEC is only a regulator and we take up the recommendations of Provinces, the Committee recommended that HEC must issue notification for doubling of seats for 08 years so that the issue pending from three years may be resolved once for all.
While considering Agenda Item No. 4 the Committee expressed its displeasure on not attending the meeting by the Chairman, WAPDA and directed that the Chairman WAPDA must attend the next Standing Committee meeting in person and to brief the Committee on the agenda otherwise the Committee will move Privilege Motion against him.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Saleh Muhammad, Mr. Shahid Ahmad, Mr. Gul Dad Khan, Mr. Gul Zafar Khan, Mr. Abdul Shakoor Shad, Mst. Shaheen Naz Saifullah, Mr. Muhammad Afzal Khokhar, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Ms. Aysha Rajab Ali, Mr. Sajid Hussain Turi and Mr. Muhammad Jamal ud Din, MNAs and Officers/Officials of the Ministry and its attached Departments.