Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Regulatory Authority (HERA) has issued a formal notice to the management of Garrison College of Allied Health Sciences, Kohat, for allegedly offering 26 unapproved academic programmes, warning of possible blacklisting, closure, and criminal proceedings.
According to official documents, the institution is registered with HERA and authorised to offer only one degree programme, BS General Nursing (GBSN). However, a regulatory audit found that the college had advertised and started offering additional programmes without obtaining the required legal and administrative approvals.
The 26 allegedly unauthorised programmes include seven associate degree programmes, four BS programmes and 15 diploma programmes.
In its notice, HERA stated that offering these programmes without approval prima facie violated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Registration and Functioning of Private Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2001, as amended in 2002. The authority also noted that the institution’s conduct could amount to misrepresentation and fraud.
HERA has summoned the head and owner of the college to appear before its chairman and explain why legal action should not be initiated against them. It warned that failure to appear on the scheduled date could lead to ex parte proceedings against the management.
The possible actions under consideration include heavy fines, closure of the institution, blacklisting and legal proceedings. HERA has also indicated that the matter could be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the authority has contacted the registrars of Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, and Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, directing them to immediately suspend any affiliation granted to the college, if applicable.
The universities have also been asked not to permit or advise the college to admit students until it obtains formal registration from HERA.