ISLAMABAD, JULY22: A national publication cited sources to suggest that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa administration is planning to close or combine a number of universities because of their escalating financial problems. There are 34 institutions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but the government is thinking of closing more than 20 of them because of persistent financial difficulties, according to sources in the Higher Education Department.
They claim that a high-level meeting has resolved to reduce expenses by either shutting down or merging some colleges as a result of the financial crisis. According to the sources, a task group has been established by the government to evaluate and document the financial difficulties that are impacting different colleges.
Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi is in charge of the task group on university finances, while Professor Dr. Ziaul Haq, vice-chancellor of KMU, is in charge of organizing it.The task force will assess the current situation of higher education in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, looking at the standard of universities, financial sustainability, connections between industry and academia, use of resources for professional education, and financial concerns.
Meena Khan Afridi, the minister of higher education, has refuted any intentions to close or combine universities, deeming such allegations baseless. While acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by universities, he gave reassurance that the province government is committed to enhancing the educational system and making sure universities achieve financial independence. He continued by saying that closing universities is not a possibility.
