7th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture
Islamabad; — A meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi at National University of Technology (NUTECH).
During the meeting, the committee deferred consideration of three legislative proposals: “The Reservation of Special Seats for Deserving Persons in Universities Bill, 2024”, “The Westminster University of Emerging Sciences and Technology Bill, 2024 and “The Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2024,” to next meeting of the committee.
The committee emphasized the federal government to implement the introduction of all official correspondence and court works to be done in Urdu as envisaged in article 251 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The committee lamented that in contradiction to the constitution, all the governments have miserably failed to give Urdu its due importance.
The Committee received a briefing from the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), which highlighted its key functions and initiatives. The Committee was informed about the department’s library resources, efforts in promoting Urdu calligraphy, publication of a monthly Urdu newspaper, and the development of an extensive dictionary collection. The NLPD has also undertaken the translation of various books into Urdu to enhance accessibility and understanding.
Additionally, the Committee was apprised of Article 251 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which emphasizes the status of Urdu as the national language. It was noted that the NLPD, established in 1979, has played a significant role in promoting the Urdu language and preserving its cultural and linguistic heritage. The Committee acknowledged the contributions of the NLPD and underscored the importance of its initiatives in fostering the use of Urdu in various domains. The Committee appreciated the department’s endeavors and emphasized the importance of promoting Urdu in a manner similar to how other nations preserve and advance their national languages. The Committee encouraged further initiatives to strengthen the use of Urdu in educational institutions, official communication, and everyday life. The Committee reaffirmed its support for NLPD’s mission and stressed the role of the national language in fostering unity and cultural identity across the country.
The committee, appreciated the Ministry of Education & Professional Training for its efforts in upgrading schools. The Committee appreciated the Ministry’s initiatives to improve infrastructure, introduce modern teaching methodologies, and provide essential resources, recognizing their impact on enhancing educational standards and bridging the urban-rural divide.
The Committee was briefed on the functions and progress of the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE), tasked with implementing Madaris reforms. Key achievements include registering 18,068 Madaris, deploying 1,196 teachers, training Madaris educators in modern education, introducing the national curriculum, and distributing textbooks for Classes I to VIII. The Committee appreciated the efforts of DGRE in implementing reforms and fostering inclusivity within the framework of religious education.
The National Curriculum Wing briefed the Committee on the National Curriculum Council’s progress and initiatives. Key achievements include the notification of the Adult Literacy Curriculum 2024, introduction of Nursing and Sports & Fitness Groups at the HSSC level, and development of textbooks for Grades 1-5 for the Bahá’í community. The Committee was informed about the introduction of specialized curricula in Financial Literacy, Mind Games, Entrepreneurship, Character Education, ICT, and Media Literacy. The Committee appreciated the Wing’s efforts in advancing educational reforms and inclusivity.
The Committee recommended the development of a uniform curriculum to be implemented across the country. It was further emphasized that this uniform curriculum should also be adopted by private educational institutions to ensure consistency and standardization in the education system nationwide.
The Committee was briefed on the National University of Technology (NUTECH), Islamabad, a leading institution addressing Pakistan’s industrial and technological needs through advanced education and skill development. NUTECH combines academic training with practical experience, fostering innovation and industry linkages to produce skilled technologists and engineers. The Committee noted NUTECH’s focus on aligning with global technological trends and its role in promoting research and innovation for socio-economic development. The Committee appreciated its contributions to technical education and workforce preparation.
The meeting was attended by MNA’s including Dr. Azim-ud-Din Zahid Lakhvi, Mr. Anjum Aqeel Khan, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Syed Sami Ul Hasan Gilani, Ms. Zeb Jaffar, Ms. Farah Naz Akbar, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, Mr. Dawar Khan Kundi, Mr. Usama Hamza, Mr. Fiaz Hussain and Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghumman. The meeting was also attended by Chairman HEC and other officers concerned.
