ISLAMABAD     -    Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training that Al-Qadir University does not exist and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has not provided any funds for it. Meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held here at old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges with Senator Irfan Siddiqui in the chair. Discussing the current status, annual budget and details of funds allocated for development and non-development projects of Al-Qadir University Jhelum, it was revealed that there was no such university registered with the HEC. The minister said that Al-Qadir University does not exist and HEC has not provided any funds for the so-called university. The chair deferred the further consideration of the matter till the next meeting. In addition, the committee was briefed by the Vice Chancellor of Chitral University regarding the issues of the institution. The VC informed that the primary issue is of funds and since inception the university is financed through Annual Development Programme (ADP) for three years and after that neither the federal government nor the provincial government is willing to provide funds. Senator Irfan Siddiqui remarked that respective provincial governments are responsible for necessary funding to the educational institutions established by them. Mushroom growth of varsities creates difficulties for HEC which is already short of funds, he added. He also directed the HEC to collaborate with the university and intimate the provincial governments to provide funds for educational institutions working under their purview. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed suggested that the ministry should also announce a relief package for the students of flood-affected areas. Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the ministry has deferred the two semester’s fees and also intends to offer scholarships to the students of flood-affected areas. The Senate body also deliberated on the bill titled ‘The Federal University (Amendment) Bill, 2022’. Senator Seemee Ezdi, mover of the bill, apprised the committee that primary aim is to make internship mandatory part of curriculum for all public and private universities located in the federal territory. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC, said that the HEC is intending to amend the Federal Universities Ordinance and the amendments proposed by Senator Seemee Ezdi will be incorporated in it.