STAFF REPORT KHI: Hundreds of students from different universities and colleges, offering B.Tech programme, while demanding the formation of Pakistan Technology Council (PTC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology staged a protest in front of the Karachi Press Club.
The students, who were protesting under the banner of Pakistan B.Tech Engineers Community (PBEC), said that as per the Higher Education Commissions decision the 4-year B.Tech (Hons) degree is at par and compatible with B.E/B.Sc Engineering degree but the PEC the professional council of Bachelor of Engineering (BE) graduates have directed all the government, semi-government and autonomous departments that the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) graduates should not be recruited on BPS-17 positions directly and not promoted upward on equal basis.
“PEC has directed all the engineering and technology universities not to give admission to the B.Tech graduates in M.S. Engineering programmes,” they alleged.
They added that the 4-year B.Tech degrees are being offered not only in Pakistan but also in many other countries including UK, Australia, India and Sri Lanka.
“The NTC will accredit the B.Tech degree progammes only but it is not in the purview of the NTC to register the B.Tech graduates and to regulate the technology profession,” they said.
They demanded of the federal government and the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the PTC through immediate presidential order.