By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD :
The Senate Standing Committee on Science & Technology met today under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Senators Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Husna Bano, and Muhammad Aslam Abro.
The Committee was briefed by Dr. Muhammad Zahid Latif, Rector NUST, on the achievements and challenges faced by the university. Established in 1991, NUST currently offers 168 degree programs in seven disciplines to 20,000 students, with a faculty strength of 1,296 members—68% of whom are PhDs, 47% foreign qualified, and 29% female.
Highlighting NUST’s achievements, the Rector informed that the university ranks 6th in South Asia, 67th in Asia, and 371st globally in the QS World Rankings 2025–2026. He stated that the Board of Governors is the main governing body overseeing all university affairs.
According to data shared, as per the 2017 census, the student body comprises 61.02% from Punjab, 11.56% from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 9.69% from Islamabad, 8.38% from Sindh, 3.1% from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, 2.59% from Balochistan, 2.24% from Gilgit-Baltistan, and 0.38% international students.
The Chairman of the Committee expressed concern over the disproportionately high percentage of students from Punjab and stressed the need to ensure greater representation from other provinces. The Rector clarified that admissions are granted strictly on merit, but varying educational standards across provinces limit the ability of some students to qualify through the entry tests while informing that NUST conducts entry tests across Pakistan to facilitate students and offers more than 1,000 scholarships to deserving students with a family income below Rs. 40,000.
The Rector also pointed out severe financial challenges, particularly in sustaining the NUST Balochistan campus facing an annual loss of Rs. 30 million. He noted that despite commitment made by the Government of Balochistan scholarships for 200 students from the province are yet to be paid. The Chairman directed to summon the Chief Secretary Balochistan and the head of Balochistan Education Endowment Fund (BEEF) in the next meeting to resolve the issue. He also instructed NUST to arrange preparatory classes for students from underprivileged provinces to help them qualify for admissions.
The Committee also discussed the shortage of girls’ hostels. It recommended that NUST submit a proposal in time for inclusion in the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The Rector apprised the Committee of funding constraints stating that against an annual government allocation of Rs. 4 billion, the university’s expenditure exceeded Rs. 12 billion including Rs. 1 billion annual electricity bill. The financial constraints have affected the ability to offer competitive salaries, resulting in increased faculty resignations.
The Committee also took notice of the issue of sewerage water from adjacent areas passing through the university premises. The committee decided to form a sub-committee to resolve various issues between NUST and CDA including water supply, land lease/usage and construction NOCs.
