FCCI president stresses consultation with private sector on education policies

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Mar, 2026) President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) Farooq Yousaf Sheikh on Saturday underscored the indispensability of education for a bright future of Pakistan and appealed the government to ensure mandatory consultation with the private sector before formulating policies for educational institutions.

He was addressing a meeting of the FCCI Standing Committee on private colleges held at chamber complex. He termed committee meeting timely and significant, adding that the private education sector had evolved into a full-fledged industry alongside its service role, making its inclusion in decision-making processes essential.

He asked the committee convener to identify issues faced by private educational institutions particularly unilateral closures in a transparent manner and propose workable solutions.

He said that provincial education minister should be invited to the chamber to discuss these issues and take practical steps for their resolution.

Committee Convener Barrister Danish Imtiaz said that in the wake of recent global developments, closure of private educational institutions was unilaterally announced from March 09 to 31 without consulting the stakeholders.

He said that the decision had adversely affected students’ education as well as parents and private institutions.

The extended closures would delay upcoming examinations and the start of next academic session, he added.

He said that irregular fee collection due to closures had created financial difficulties for the institutions, making it challenging to pay salaries to the teachers on time.

Several institutions had already been forced to shut down due to such unilateral decisions and financial constraints, he added.

Barrister Danish Imtiaz suggested introducing a “work from home” model for private institutions similar to public sector setups, though he noted that such a hybrid system would not be effective for junior classes particularly in rural areas where 60,000 to 70,000 students lack access to computers and transport facilities.

Another participant, Khalid Hayat Kamoaka, said that educational institutions were often the first to face restrictions during emergencies while other activities continued without similar curbs.

He called for abolishing Saturday holidays for educational institutions and reducing summer and other vacations to compensate for academic losses.

The meeting also demanded the appointment of permanent heads in educational boards to ensure effective governance and continuity in the education system.