Islamabad, January 6, 2026: The 20th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held under the convenorship of Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro at the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Islamabad.
The Committee criticized the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PIERA) over unjustified increases in school fees and raised serious concerns about the mechanism linking fee hikes to quality assessment. Members stressed that fee increases must be tied to genuine improvements in seven core indicators: quality of teaching, classroom learning environment, infrastructure and facilities, transparency and public disclosure, administrative and operational capacity, cleanliness and discipline, and safety and security. They emphasized that arbitrary fee hikes should not place an undue financial burden on parents.
The Committee called for stricter scrutiny, transparency, and effective oversight by PIERA to ensure that assessments are fair, credible, and serve the interests of students and parents.
It was also noted that MoUs signed with NGOs have been vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice and include provisions for compliance with minimum wage laws. The Committee emphasized that all employees in government schools funded or operated through NGOs must be paid in accordance with minimum wage laws, without exception.
On facilities for children with special needs, the Committee recommended that all buildings under administrative control of the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) be formally handed over to DGSE to ensure their effective use for education, rehabilitation, and welfare of children with special needs. The Committee stressed that the transfer of control would enhance service delivery, institutional capacity, and create a better learning environment. A reminder had already been issued in December 2025 to Baitul Mal to vacate the DGSE building. Members were informed that, in collaboration with NAVTTC, children with special needs are provided with skill training to empower them and connect them to income-generation opportunities.
The Committee was briefed on initiatives under Pakistan’s obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Measures include free education and transport, school-based meal programs, national immunization, vaccination, and deworming programs, along with interventions to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of children within the education system.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Anjum Aqeel Khan, Syeda Amnah Batool, Zeb Jaffar, Farah Naz Akbar (Parliamentary Secretary), Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, and Abdul Aleem Khan. Officials from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Higher Education Commission (HEC), and other concerned officers were also present.
