As many as 94 lecturers and assistant professors from three public-sector universities in Balochistan have failed to return to the country after receiving scholarships to pursue higher education abroad, it has emerged.
The universities have spent more than Rs268 million on scholarships for these faculty members, but despite completing or pursuing their studies overseas, 94 of them have not returned to their respective institutions.
According to details, more than 100 lecturers and assistant professors from Balochistan have travelled abroad for higher education since 2010 under scholarship programmes funded by the provincial universities. While some returned after completing their studies, 94 remained abroad.
The highest number of absentees belongs to the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), where 51 lecturers and assistant professors have failed to return. The university spent Rs118.545 million on their scholarships.
Similarly, 25 faculty members of the University of Balochistan went abroad under scholarship programmes costing Rs91.565 million but did not return.
The Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University also funded overseas scholarships for 18 lecturers and assistant professors, spending Rs59.09 million. However, these faculty members have likewise failed to report back to their institutions.
The issue came to light during scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which sought an explanation from the heads of the universities over the substantial public expenditure and the failure of scholarship recipients to return.
In response, the university administrations informed the committee that efforts were underway to ensure the return of the 94 faculty members.
They said letters were being sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), embassies of the countries concerned and the foreign universities where the teachers were studying or staying, seeking assistance in bringing them back to Pakistan.
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