ISLAMABAD  - A delegation of heads of leading universities of Bosnia and Herzegovina have paid a visit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad.
The main objective of the visit was to explore the possibilities of academic cooperation, including faculty and scholars’ exchange, in higher education sector between the two countries.
The Executive Director HEC, Prof Dr S Sohail H Naqvi welcomed the delegation and apprised them about the working, functions and role of HEC for strengthening higher education sector in Pakistan.
He informed that the establishment of the HEC in 2002 has brought revolutionary changes in higher education sector of Pakistan; The HEC has accomplished more in ten years since its establishment than was achieved in the first 55 years of Pakistan’s existence. Research output has grown eight folds since 2002 (from 815 in 2002 to 6,200 in 2011). 90 percent of these research publications from Pakistan are coming from HEIs, he said.
Output has more than doubled just in the last three years and is expected to double again in the next three years. Pakistan today is a regional leader in ICTs, which other countries are following. The digital library provides access to 75 percent of the World’s literature (23,000 e-journals and 45,000 e-books). All public sector universities of Pakistan have been equipped with video conferencing. 
He also informed that due to revolutionary reforms in the sector, Pakistani universities have been between the top world and Asian universities and other countries are following Pakistani higher education model.
The delegation appreciated the role of HEC in brining vibrant and effective changes in the higher education sector of Pakistan and showed keen interest for collaboration with HEC and Pakistani higher education institutions.
They also acknowledged those international standards are being followed in higher education sector by Pakistan. They also recognised the assistance of government and people of Pakistan during wartime. The delegation was comprised of Denis Prcic, President, American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dr Ozer Cinar Rector International University of Sarajevo.
This ceremony was attended by the Vice Chancellors, registrars, deans and directors of leading public and private universities of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad who discussed various avenues of possible cooperation among the universities of both the countries. The participants have consensus that student & faculty exchange, joint seminar/conferences would be greatly helpful in bringing the academicians and youth of both the countries closer to one another. 
The President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegovic is on his two days official visit to Pakistan. He is accompanied by a delegation including heads of two Bosnian universities to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two brother countries in the sectors of higher education and science and technology. The delegation is also visiting higher education institutions of Pakistan i.e. Quaid-i-Azam University and National University Science and Technology Islamabad, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Islamabad and Institute of Space Technology Islamabad.