ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 4th Aug, 2026) National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was informed that approximately 26,000 out-of-school children have been identified, of whom around 18,000 have already been enrolled in non-formal education.
The meeting of the committee was held under the Acting Chairmanship of Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Member National Assembly (MNA) at Constitution Room, Parliament House, here.
During briefing, It was stated that National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has launched a door-to-door enrollment campaign across 36 Union Councils of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to identify out-of-school children and facilitate their enrollment in non-formal education centers.
The Committee was further informed that three tent schools have been established in Jogia, near Faizabad, to provide educational opportunities for children residing in the settlement. It was also highlighted that children who successfully complete the non-formal education programme and obtain the prescribed certification become eligible for admission to the formal education system.
While appreciating the initiative, the Committee expressed concern over the absence of a clear exit strategy to ensure the seamless transition of children from non-formal education to mainstream schools. The Committee emphasized the need for a comprehensive monitoring and follow-up mechanism to track the educational progress of these children and ensure their continued retention in the formal education system.
Meanwhile, the Committee expressed serious concern over the growing menace of narcotics in educational institutions and stressed that ensuring a safe and drug-free learning environment is a shared responsibility of educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and regulatory authorities.
The Committee emphasized that educational institutions must adopt proactive measures, strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms, and take institutional responsibility to prevent the supply and use of narcotic substances on campuses.
The Committee observed that imposing disciplinary penalties on students alone is insufficient to address the root causes of the problem. It underscored the need for coordinated and intelligence-based operations by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), police, and educational institutions to identify, dismantle, and prosecute the criminal networks involved in the trafficking and distribution of narcotic substances among students.
The Committee further emphasized that preventive awareness initiatives, effective surveillance, and law enforcement measures must complement institutional disciplinary actions to eliminate the menace of drugs from educational institutions.
Regarding other matters, the Committee was informed by the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) that approximately 4,000 square feet of land has been retrieved from the Haza institute out of the total 20,000 square feet previously allocated.
It was further stated that the institute is primarily intended to provide market-oriented vocational training to Pakistani youth with the objective of equipping them with the skills required for employment opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Committee was also informed that NAVTTC is currently reviewing the terms and conditions of the existing agreement with the institute. In this regard, discussions are underway to revise the agreement to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and alignment with the objectives of the training programme and the public interest.
The Committee expressed reservations over the implementation of the NCLEX Nursing Training Programme, particularly with regard to the transparency and fairness of its execution.
Members questioned the selection process of the implementing partner, observing that the programme had not been publicly advertised and that the Institute of Contemporary Studies had been engaged without an open and competitive bidding process.
The Committee emphasized that such initiatives, financed through public resources, must adhere to the principles of transparency, merit, and equal opportunity to ensure credibility and public confidence.
The Committee further underscored the need to provide equitable access to the programme by ensuring fair regional representation and equal opportunities for eligible candidates from all provinces and regions of the country through a transparent and competitive selection process.
To enable a comprehensive review of the programme, the Committee decided that the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) be invited to the next meeting to provide its professional input on the programme’s design, implementation, accreditation, and alignment with national nursing standards.
Responding to the concerns raised by the Committee, the Executive Director of NAVTTC said that the NCLEX Nursing Training Programme is an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of Pakistani nurses and improving their access to international employment opportunities. He sought support of the Honourable Members of Parliament and the Committee, assuring them that the programme has the potential to create significant overseas employment prospects for qualified nursing professionals while contributing to the country’s skilled workforce development.
The Committee was informed that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has constituted a new committee to examine the findings and recommendations of the previous inquiry committee and to further deliberate on the longstanding administrative, governance, and institutional issues confronting the Federal urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST).
The Committee expressed strong dissatisfaction over the continued delay in resolving the University’s affairs, noting that the report of the previous inquiry committee had yet to be placed before the University Senate for consideration and implementation of its recommendations. Members observed that, instead of ensuring timely action on the findings of the earlier inquiry, another committee had been constituted to address the grievances of the University’s faculty and staff, raising concerns over the duplication of processes and the lack of tangible progress in addressing the persistent governance challenges facing the institution.
The Committee emphasized that repeated constitution of committees without implementing previous recommendations undermines institutional accountability and unnecessarily prolongs the resolution of critical issues affecting the University’s academic and administrative functioning. Stressing the need for decisive action rather than procedural delays, the Committee recommended the Higher Education Commission to ensure that the newly constituted committee completes its work within two months. The Committee further said that the HEC to submit a comprehensive report, including specific recommendations and a time-bound implementation plan, and to initiate concrete corrective measures for resolving the outstanding issues at FUUAST without further delay.
The meeting was attended by MNA’s including Anjum Aqeel Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Farah Naz Akbar, Musarrat Asif Khawaja, Syeda Amnah Batool, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Ms. Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Abdul Aleem Khan and Ms. Sabheen Ghoury. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, officials of Higher Education Commission HEC and other officers concerned.
