US holds on $250m aid over devolving HEC

ISLAMABAD: Under the government’s decision of scheduled devolving of Higher Education Commission (HEC) to provinces, US has immediately put on hold 250 million dollar aid meant for foreign scholarships and research for Pakistani students, Geo News reported. Dr. Javaid Laghari, Chairman HEC, told Geo News correspondent Naveed Siddiqui that a lady representative of USAID Monday held meeting with him and apprised of USAID’s decision to hold on $250 million aid to HEC. USAID was to give HEC $250 million for higher studies and research and development work of Pakistani students this year, he said. “Officials of US embassy told him,” he said that USAID could hardly maintain contacts with each province. Meanwhile, World Bank has also hinted at putting on hold a $300 million loan to HEC for higher education of Pakistani students over the uncertainty of latter’s future after government’s decision to transfer commission to provinces, he revealed. According to Laghari, no order in black and white has been received in this connection besides verbal commands.

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