Human resource our real wealth: Atta
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan is now firmly on the path to develop its human resource which at the present time is proving to be the real wealth of successful nations.
This was stated by Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman while addressing at the National Security College, University of Defense, Islamabad, says a press release issued here by HEC on Monday. The Chairman said that those countries are marching forward who have invested in their higher education sector. HEC is investing about 60 percent of its funds in faculty development since quality education is directly tied up with the quality of faculty, he added.
He said that 54 percent of Pakistan’s population is under 19 years ago which presents us a significant demographic advantage to become globally competitive and to become a knowledge economy which will lead the way to industrialization. He shared with the audience HEC’s plan of action regarding developing the higher education sector which has as its base, access, quality and relevance. Other important factors are faculty development, infrastructure and focused support in key areas, linkages to the economy and quality assurance, he added. He outlined HEC’s steps in attracting the bright young people to join the academia. The Tenure Track System of performance based appointment with higher salaries research grants, travels grants, access to free scientific instrumentation and research productivity allowance were only a few of the steps that were in place to create an enabling environment for young academics, he said and added that technology too has been harnessed to leap frog.
The HEC Digital Library has made 23,000 journals along with 45,000 e-books available free online to universities while the video conferencing facility provided to universities through which students are able to participate in real time lectures by the best international professors.
Tahir Rafiq Butt, Air Vice Marshal, Commandant National Security College, National Defense University in his address, appreciated Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman’s relentless efforts in revamping the higher education sector and expressed his conviction that any project which has Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman as its driving force is bound to succeed.
He stressed the need to sustain this effort to ensure Pakistan’s endeavors to transition into a knowledge economy.