A pivotal meeting of the Course Design Committee (CDC) convened at the Regional Office of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Karachi.
The primary agenda of the gathering was the formulation of a two-credit course titled “Pakistan Studies,” for undergraduate degree programs. Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, Deputy Director, HEC commenced the session by elucidating the rationale and parameters guiding the consultation process.
He emphasized the imperative for a meticulously crafted course on Pakistan Studies that offers students a comprehensive exploration of Pakistan’s identity, encompassing its geographical, historical, and cultural dimensions.
The committee comprised distinguished experts in the field, including Dr. Abdul Qadir Mushtaq, Professor & Chairperson of Department of Pakistan Studies, Government College University, Faisalabad, Dr. Javed Akhtar Salyana, Professor & Chairman of Department of Pakistan Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Dr. Mahboob Hussain, Professor & Chairman of Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Professor & Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Dr. Naumana Kiran, Professor & Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Dr. Shuja Ahmed Mahesar, Professor & Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, Jamshore, Dr. Muhammad Hanif Khan, Associate Professor & Director of National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Dr. Robina Yasmin, Associate Professor & Chairperson of Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur and Dr. Erum Muzaffar, Assistant Professor & in-charge of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi, Karachi.
The committee designed the course and underscored the importance of its incorporation into the general education component of the Undergraduate Education Policy V 1.1. , however, the course should not serve as a substitute for the existing “Ideology and Constitution of Pakistan” course as outlined in the same policy.
