Pakistan has scored an impressive 50% increase in research publications in the last two years, going up from 3,939 to 6,200 in higher education sector. This has been the second highest increase worldwide. Scimago, world’s leading research database, believes by continuing this research trend, then by 2018, Pakistan will move ahead 26 notches in world ranking, from 43 to 27 in 5 years by 2018. This will be the first time ever that Pakistan would cross Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand in Asia.
Today Pakistan publishes more research papers per capita than India. PhD faculty at our universities has also increased by almost 50% – from 4,203 to 6,067 in last 2 years. This success is because Higher Education Commission sponsored PhD scholars have started returning and joining universities. 10 to 15 scholars complete their PhDs weekly and HEC places them at universities under its Interim Placement of Fresh PhDs Program. Another HEC incentive is a Rs. 0.5 million research grant to every returning scholar.
Fresh PhDs are being inducted by HEC in various universities across the country. Number of PhD students at universities increased by over 40% last year from 6,937 to 9,858. Over 28,100 students are registered for MPhil/ MS, up from 16,960, an increase of 65% in two years. Increase in PhDs awarded is again very similar, from 628 to 927 in last 3 years, and is expected to surge in future too as more PhD faculty and students join the universities. Commenting on the developments, Dr Javaid R Laghari Chairman HEC said that universities are the single most important producers of knowledge and research leading to innovation and entrepreneurship.
By introducing innovation, creativity and interdisciplinary research as a vital component of teaching and with knowledge exchange programs, universities contribute more directly to economy and society than many other institutions, he added. He said HEC is encouraging research and ensuring proper utilization of manpower training for the country’s socio economic development. Here HEC has picked and prioritised energy, water resources, environment, food security etc.
Dr Laghari believes that with increased budget allocations for higher education and encouragement by new democratic government, Pakistan will win more laurels in high education at international level.
