Pakistan Studies no longer mandatory for undergraduate degrees

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced a significant change to its undergraduate policy, effectively removing Pakistan Studies as a compulsory subject. According to reports, the new undergraduate policy, which will be implemented from the new scheme of studies in 2023, no longer includes Pakistan Studies as a mandatory subject in BA, BSc, and all honours degree programs.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi has clarified that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) did not make any decisions or recommendations to universities regarding the abolition of Pakistan Studies from their degree programs. Solangi made this statement in response to a motion put forward by Senator Mushtaq Ghani, who claimed that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had removed Pakistan Studies from the syllabus at the graduation level.

The information minister told the Senate, “As per the concerned ministry and HEC, no decision or proposal has been issued to abolish the subject of Pakistan Affairs or any other course from the syllabus at the graduation level.”

According to Solangi, every undergraduate policy that the HEC has suggested complies with the minimal requirements needed for these kinds of programs. Universities function independently within the bounds of their own legislation, he continued.

They highlighted that the subject has been taught at the graduate level for several decades and replacing it with another subject might lead to sensitive apprehensions regarding national sentiments. They urged the HEC to reconsider its decision and restore Pakistan Studies as a compulsory subject at the undergraduate level.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Higher Education Commission clarified that universities are not bound by this policy, suggesting that the decision to include or exclude Pakistan Studies from the curriculum may still vary across different institutions.

According to the caretaker minister, a course on Pakistan’s ideology and the constitution has been incorporated into all undergraduate degree programs. Murtaza Solangi further said that this course is a blend of Pakistan Studies and the Constitution.

He revealed that the HEC is currently engaging in consultations with relevant stakeholders to develop a two-credit-hour compulsory course for all undergraduate degree programs.