The 19th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training convened on 18 December 2025 at the conference room of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro.
Members raised serious concerns about FUUAST governance after noting persistent failures by the university administration to address officially reported grievances. The Committee said the pattern of inaction signals weaknesses in accountability, transparency and institutional oversight and resolved to visit the FUUAST campus to examine issues firsthand, engage stakeholders and initiate measures for prompt redressal.
The panel warned that continued delays, non-compliance with procedures or failure to implement corrective measures would be treated with utmost seriousness and that it would recommend stringent action where necessary to uphold good governance, transparency and academic integrity. The focus on FUUAST governance will guide the Committee’s on-site review and possible follow-up actions.
The Committee also took strong notice of the unexplained absence of the Executive Director of NAVTTC from the meeting. Members expressed displeasure that the ED did not attend nor formally notify the Committee of any prior official engagement, and unanimously decided not to proceed with the NAVTTC agenda in the absence of the principal officer. Although the ED was later reported to be in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Members questioned that account and warned that any misleading information would prompt strict action for non-compliance with parliamentary protocols.
Delegates expressed deep concern over a recurring rise in fees at private schools and characterised the trend as exploitative for parents. The Committee urged that the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority be strengthened with adequate human resources, technical capacity and enforcement powers to regulate fee structures, ensure transparency in charges and enforce approved curricula.
Members highlighted the unchecked proliferation of small private schools operating in residential streets with only two or three rooms and inadequate infrastructure, raising serious questions about quality, safety and the learning environment. The Committee said empowering PIERA and closing regulatory gaps are essential to protect students and families.
The meeting also flagged a leadership vacuum across key education bodies, noting the resignation of the PIERA Chairperson, the vacant post of HEC Chairman and the unfilled position of Director General at the Federal Directorate of Education. The Convenor described these gaps as evidence of prolonged administrative inertia and a lack of priority for the education sector.
During proceedings the Convenor expressed reservations about the Ministry’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasising that Pakistan’s international commitments under the CRC demand full compliance and meaningful action by education authorities.
The session was attended by MNAs including Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar (Parliamentary Secretary), Ms. Musarrat Asif Khwaja, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury and Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, along with the Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, representatives from the Higher Education Commission and other concerned officers.
