HEC forms Innovation Steering Committee to promote entrepreneurship in varsities

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has formulated a new committee for the Innovation Steering which will definitely prove to be the force behind the newly sanctioned HEC Technology Funds. The Funds amount to Rs 2.95 million, after the approval of government.

The main objective of committee is to increase revolution as well as entrepreneurial activities in universities to help in increasing the job opportunities and to certify the economic empowerment of Pakistan.

An official of HEC said that some institutes as well as individuals have showed exceptional performances in recent years. In spite of that, there is still a need to boost faculty sizes in universities and to inspire the aspirants and also the researchers to come up along with the new ideas and commercial efforts.

Imtiaz Rastghar has been selected as the Chairman of the Innovation Steering Committee, he added. He moreover said that committee has decided to analyze and develop better-quality parameters to appraise Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), start a new startup academy and take moves to promote private enterprise among women.

Executive Director of Higher Education commission, Dr Arshad Ali, said that HEC will improve upon the development made by ORIC until now in order to make a better information and knowledge economy in the country.

He showed apprehension upon the increasing population of youth in Pakistan as this would cause an even greater lack of universities as well as educational institutes. He said that new universities will need to establish to cope along with the increasing demand.

He also added “These graduates are a national asset and we really need to work together to make a roadmap connecting our youth to the solution of rising national desires”.

HEC director also said that the commission is looking forward to increasing the positive role of the business community to help straighten Pakistan’s economy.