Islamabad: Hundreds of Pakistanis who are studying abroad on scholarships funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) are no longer in contact with the organisation, officials say.

At least 428 scholars who were sent abroad by the HEC for pursuing PhDs and masters’ degrees leading to PhD have been declared absconders and action is being taken against them, the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was told by HEC on Monday.

According to the HEC working paper, a total of 5,780 overseas scholarships have been awarded to date.

Of these 3,807 students have completed their studies, while 1,537 are still studying and 428 have absconded.

The paper also has declared around 428 scholars absconders for different reasons such as not completing their PhDs or doctorates and not returning and completing their degree but returning to the country later and PhD studies left for medical grounds.

HEC officials told Senate Committee that of the 428 absconders, the HEC has received the expenses it incurred plus 25 per cent penalty from 55 of the students while 11 students are in the process of paying the expenses and penalties. HEC has filed cases against 116 of the students and legal action is being initiated against the remaining 338 scholars.

According to HEC rules, PhD candidates and research scholars financed by HEC sign a pledge to return home after finishing their courses and serve the country for at least five years.

The data shared by HEC officials added that 207,799 students were facilitated from prime minister’s reimbursement scheme and that HEC has awarded 56,524 scholarships for different programmes since its inception while 30,074 students have completed their education.

The Senate committee, chaired by Senator Nuzhat Sadiq in the Parliament House, was attended by Senator Sehar Kamran, Senator Bushra Gull, Federal Education Minister Baleegh-ur-Rehman, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and other officials.

The committee also discussed educational issues and approved two important bills related to Islamabad’s education sector which have been sent to Senate for final approval.

One of the bills on National Civic Education Commission, moved by PPP Senator Sehar Kamran, calls for promoting civic education and creating awareness about the fundamental rights and obligations of citizens in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The committee also approved a bill calling for the establishment of a National Skills University in Islamabad to provide skills based education based on the German education model.

The bill moved by Federal education minister Balighur Rehman stressed on the need for establishing more public and private sector universities. “National Institute of Sciences and Technology will be upgraded into the National Skills University and skills based education will help the youth take advantage of the opportunities” such as from the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, Rehman said.

Minister Balighur Rehman Wednesday said the government had increased the budget of Higher Education Commission from Rs40 billion (Dh1.32 billion) in 2013 to Rs107 billion in 2017-18 to facilitate students.

However, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has sought Rs40 billion for financial year 2018-19 for different development schemes. The amount is proposed to be spent on 181 new and 134 un-approved projects, the meeting was told.