ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Monday called for the immediate filling of vacant positions in the Senate and Syndicate of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (Fuuast) to ensure the smooth functioning of the university.
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, discussed various issues concerning Fuuast.
The committee examined operational and administrative challenges at the university, highlighting that the absence of appointments to the Senate and Syndicate had hindered overall university operations and financial decisionmaking. The committee expressed concern over governance gaps, noting the urgency of completing the Syndicate and Senate bodies to restore functional decision-making.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) provided a comprehensive briefing on the degree attestation process, the status of cases involving Al-Khair University and the implementation of itspaperless attestation system.
The committee was told that due to persistent academic irregularities, unauthorised franchising and substandard education, HEC had previously suspended operations at Al-Khair University, limiting admissions strictly to its principal seat at Bhimber from October 17, 2011, before permanently suspending admissions in Fall 2016.
The HEC chairman stated that HEC had recognised the degrees of 64,379 graduates and mandated that 11,515 graduates from affiliated colleges pass a comprehensive test for degree recognition.
The committee was also informed that at its 48th Commission meeting on August 3, 2026, HEC formally reaffirmed this decision, rejecting any relaxation of standard safeguards and maintaining the requirement for students of unauthorised campuses and affiliated colleges to clear the examination.
Moreover, HEC highlighted the rollout of its paperless online degree attestation system, which has been operational since May2026.
HEC stated that the digital platform had processed 73,146 attestation cases involving 139,021 academic documents. The system ena-bles applicants to submit requests online at any time without submitting physical documents or visiting HEC offices, allowing them to download e-Attestation Certificates directly from their dashboards.
Regarding academic exemptions for Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) holders, the HEC chairman briefed the committee on current credit requirements.
The committee directed HEC to re-evaluate the policy framework governing DAE academic equivalencies to ensure fair treatment for technical diploma holders within existing statutory powers.
The committee also evaluated transport facilities for specially-abled students and working women.
Following a briefing by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding accessible buses with designated seating, the chairperson directed CDA to re-examine and reroute specific bus routes to better serve wheelchair users and persons with disabilities.
She also requested an updated compliance report from the authority at the earliest.