LAHORE: A director of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has been accused of demanding a bribe to grant a charter to an institute.
Director PHEC Nouman Maqbool Rao is considered the right-hand man of the chairman who has not initiated an enquiry against him. He allegedly demanded a bribe for the registration and granting charter to the National Excellence Institute (NEI) by the CAM Foundation.
CAM Foundation submitted an application on December 12 last year to Secretary Higher Education for the registration of the institute. The administration of CAM Foundation claimed that PHEC Director demanded Rs300,000 to formulate and develop a feasibility study report for the proposed institute.
He was offered Rs. 100,000 in cash, another Rs. 100,000 in bank account while the remainder was supposed to be given after the completion of the report. A complaint was sent to Punjab Higher Education Department after the report was not given.
On January 6, Higher Education Department sent a letter to Chairman PHEC regarding the granting status to the National Excellence Institute (NEI).
The Higher Education Department directed Chairman PHEC to enquire into the allegations of conflict of interest, misuse of authority and corruption leveled against the Director PHEC and furnish a report to the department.
The department has sought an update about the current status of the application for granting the charter to the institute. Sources revealed that Chairman PHEC Dr Fazal Ahmed Khalid is reluctant to take any action against the director. He was not available for comment when contacted.
