HEC starts work on Ahsan’s cut in tea consumption

The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) has started work on the planning minister’s suggestion to bring down tea consumption, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported Friday.

The commission directed the vice-chancellors of the public sector to promote traditional and local beverages. It will increase employment and generate income for the public.

HEC acting chairperson Dr Shaista Sohail, in a circular, drew the VCs' attention to the financial crisis confronting Pakistan and asked them to take a “leadership role and think of innovative ways to provide relief to the lower-income groups and the economy as a whole”.

The chairperson also suggested reducing fossil fuel imports, promoting research in alternate energy, reducing edible oil imports; research on local cooking oils and their marketing to replace imported edible oils.

 “I am sure that the honorable vice-chancellors will be able to innovatively explore many other avenues to create employment, reduce imports and ease the economic situation,” she added.