PIFD meeting declared null and void for ‘dishonest intent’, rule violations and lack of presidential approval
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chairing a meeting of the committee at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in Islamabad on February 11. Photo: Senate
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Wednesday ordered investigations into alleged financial irregularities in the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and announced strict measures to tackle the issue of fake degrees, while declaring null and void a controversial meeting held at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD).
The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, who spearheaded the creation of a permanent help desk at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to verify academic qualifications. She said accurate data would be compiled on unverified institutions and fake degrees, stressing that students should not suffer from institutional neglect. The HEC secretary assured the committee that the help desk would be set up immediately.
The committee then took up an agenda presented by Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan regarding the functioning, transparency and financial management of NAVTTC over the last five years. NAVTTC officials informed the committee that 71,000 students were trained in 2025, including 6,200 from Balochistan and 43,000 from Punjab, and there was no fixed quota for south Punjab.
Officials said NAVTTC’s annual budget is Rs 7 billion, with expenditure per student ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 140,000, and funds are disbursed directly to institutions through joint accounts. However, a student representative from south Punjab contradicted this claim, saying that only Rs 1,500 per student was paid for training.
After hearing both sides, the committee constituted a subcommittee headed by Senator Kamran Murtaza to investigate the allegations of misappropriation of funds under the NAVTTC programs, identify the institutions involved and determine responsibilities.
Separately, the committee declared a meeting held at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) null and void, ruling that it was conducted with “malafide intent”, in violation of prescribed rules and without the approval of the presidency. The decision was taken during a Higher Education Commission briefing regarding the controversial PIFD meeting.
The PIFD issue surfaced last week when Senator Butt, during a standing committee session, questioned the tenure of the institute’s vice-chancellor and the release of over Rs2 billion of institutional funds. She also criticized the federal education minister for repeatedly missing committee meetings and ignoring its directives.
She said the commission had ruled that the vice-chancellor’s term ended in December and that she should step down, with any investigation being conducted transparently. Despite this, she alleged that the minister not only appointed Tayyaba as acting vice-chancellor but also elevated her to the position of professor.
Senator Butt strongly opposed the continued role of the Vice-Chancellor, pointing out that an investigation was already underway against her for allegedly acting beyond institutional rules and remaining in office for more than 25 years. She questioned how the position was being treated as an inherited right, including reported attempts to facilitate the appointment of the vice-chancellor’s sister to the position.
The commission declared the vice-chancellor retired and held that no post or authority should have been given to her before the conclusion of the investigation. He also objected to his absence from previous meetings and referred the matter to the Committee on Privileges for explanation. “A vice-chancellor who goes beyond the rules is not bigger than the system,” she said.
Further concerns were raised over the opening of a hostel just six months before the vice-chancellor’s retirement. The matter was referred to the Senate Finance Committee to determine whether the action exceeded legitimate powers.
Butt stressed that the committee’s actions were not directed against individuals but aimed at ending the practice of running public institutions like private businesses. She said the committee’s mandate extended beyond agenda discussions to ensure monitoring, implementation, transparency and accountability in higher education institutions.
