Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dissolution

A survey conducted by NAYS

Shehar Bano (M.Sc)

National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Pakistan School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore. 54590. Pakistan www.nays.com.pk

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Summary
Education plays the same role in the progress of a nation as the backbone plays in our body. If a good education policy helps to build a nation strong than a bad education policy does the same for its destruction. Establishment of HEC was one of the best steps taken by the government in regard of education policies, and its devolution could be the worst. So NAYS decided to conduct a survey on HEC dissolution in order to report the opinion of young Science graduates in documented form. Owing to this purpose, on April 22, 2011, NAYS survey spread a simple questionnaire as Google form to all the NAYS members which represent the researchers and scientists from whole Pakistan. 400 of them participate in this survey. Results show that 94.5% disagree with the dissolution of HEC. 63.75% dont consider it as a violation of 18th amendment to resist the dissolution of HEC. In perception of 72.25 % higher education is a federal subject in most of the developing countries. 84.25% thought that there should be same standards of Higher Education in all the provinces and after the devolution of HEC it will not be possible. And it will be great loss to the nation if more than 4000 PhD scholars who are studying abroad will not return back after the dissolution of HEC.

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Contents
Acknowledgement Introduction Overview of HEC Questionnaire Design Survey Method and Sample Selection Response of Sample Findings Discussion Conclusion References Appendix iii 1 1 3 3 3 4 7 8 9 12

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Acknowledgements
I bow in deep reverence to Almighty Allah, the most merciful and compassionate, the Omnipotent, most Benevolent and Bounteous. He is who enabled me and bestowed upon me His countless Blessings to complete this survey. A survey can never be successful by the efforts of a single person. So I am thankful to all those persons who play their role in spreading this questionnaire, and all those who fill it. I am specially thankful to the patron of NAYS, Dr. Anwer Naseem (Advisor COMSTECH) who encouraged us to conduct this survey. And at last bundle of thanks to Mr. Aftab Ahmad (president of NAYS) for his timely help and guidance.

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Introduction
If it is said that present era is the era of knowledge than that will not be wrong. Developed countries are rapidly progressing in science and technology. And the developing countries are increasing their budgets of education and specially higher education as they are stepping forward to the knowledge based

economies. As natural resources are of no use unless a nation dont have brilliant minds and appropriate policies to utilize them. So the basic motive behind the creation of HEC was to enhance the facilities of Higher Education for all Pakistani students. In that way we can convert our economy from Low Value Added Agricultural Economy to Knowledge Based Economy.

Overview of HEC
In 2000 World Bank (WB) and UNESCO pointed out the backwardness of developing countries like Pakistan which act as an inducer to activate the Education Ministry. So Zubaida Jalal, Education Minister at that time constituted a task force to higher education and research in Pakistan. This task force recommended the formation of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in place of University Grant Commission (UGC) which was formerly established by Zulifkar Ali Bhutto in 1970s. In April 11, 2002, Musharraf regime approved the recommendation of Task Force on Improvement of Higher Education in Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Attaur-Rehman, Federal Minister of Science and Technology at that time was considered as a best person to take the position of chairman of HEC. Existing Chairman of HEC is Dr. Javaid Laghari who was appointed in 2009. HEC is an autonomous body and Prime Minister (PM) is the controlling authority of HEC. Commission is constituted of 17 members which is a perfect balance of federal, provincial and

university representatives. They are appointed for 4 year tenure and can not be removed by anyone. Several important functions performed by HEC are as assurance of quality in higher education and research, formation of new universities, provision of funds, accreditation of universities and the degrees issued by them, and coordination between universities and industries etc. As HEC replaced the UGC, so it is very important to knew about its achievements. Few achievements are listed below: No. of universities increased from 57 in 2000 to 132 in 2010. Enrolment in universities increased from 1,37,000 in 2000 to 4,00,000 in 2010. In first 55 years there were about 3000 PhDs but in last eight years 3280 PhDs had been produced. There were just 14 PhDs in engineering in first 55 years and 140 in last eight years. 7500 PhDs are in pipeline studying at prestigious local and foreign universities.

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Research output increased six fold per year i-e from 815 in 2002 to 5068 in 2010. Citation increased 1000% during the last few years. Through PERN they linked all universities through a 10GB backbone and 1 GB connectivity. 75% of worlds literature (23000 ejournals and 45000 ebooks) is available to all university students via digital library. Now 5 universities are ranked in top 500, but before HEC there was not even a single university in this ranking. Now Pakistani degrees are recognized in whole world because HEC has earned membership of the Asia Pacific Quality Network, as well as the Network of Quality Assurance Agencies of the World. Now NARIC, UK agency for equating foreign education system also recognized our degrees that they didnt in past. That all became possible due to the prestigious performance of HEC and due to its autonomy. Performance of HEC was admired at world level. WB, USAID, British council, Royal Society, Nature, Science Watch admired its role in different words. Some one called it as a Rising Star and other one as Silent Revolution. Fred M Hayward and many others also praised the performance of HEC. But beside all these achievements there are also few critics of HEC who pointed out the flaws of HEC as Prof Dr. Pervaiz Hoodbhoy, Dr. Pervaiz Tahir, Dr Aisha Siddiqa and Najjam Sethi etc. Their NAYS Survey

objections include substandard PhDs, useless projects, expensive but useless equipment and failure of foreign university formation programs etc. In addition to this they also argue that instead of spending huge money on higher education, Pakistan should spend this money on primary and secondary education. The last week of March and the whole month of April had proved turbulent for HEC. In a meeting of Implementation Commission led by Mian Raza Rabbani on March 28, 2011, they decided to devolve HEC to the provinces. Along with this they retained several functions at federal level but fragmented them in Cabinet Division, Ministry of InterProvincial Coordination, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). On March 31, 2011 HEC was informed through a notification No.F.3(26)/2010-IC-I about its devolution. Then students protested in different cities of Pakistan against this decision. Ministry of Finance also blocked the installment of Rs. 7.7 billion as the position of HEC was uncertain after this notification. Same was expected about the soft loan of $300m approved by WB and another foreign assistance of $250m via USAID. In a meeting on April 7, 2011, VCs of more than 130 universities sought intervention by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to keep the HEC as a federal entity. On April 9, 2011 a petition had filed under the Article 184(3) of constitution at Supreme Court (SC) at the behalf of Rippah International University Rector Professor GA Miana and University of Lahore Islamabad Campus Director General Brigadier Muhammad Ajaeb against Federal Government and Ministry of Law by Advocate Arshad Ali Ch. and was drawn by Mr. Anwer

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Masood Khan. A plea was also submitted by Dr. Atta-ur-rehman at SC to take a suo moto action against the devolution of HEC. On April 12, 2011 three member bench comprised of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mehmood Ch., justice Muhammad Sair Ali and justice Ghulam Rabbani held that the notification of March 31, 2011 shall have no effect on the functioning of the HEC in view of the provisions of the Ordinance 2002 and in case of any conflict and inconsistency between the notification and the provisions of the ordinance, the ordinance shall prevail. And finally on April 28, 2011, the decision was taken during the meeting of Council of Common Interest (CCI) chaired by PM Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and attended by the CMs of all provinces that the federal government will continue to fund HEC until the next NFC Award in 2014.

Questionnaire Design
A simple questionnaire was designed to conduct this survey. The questionnaire comprised of two parts: Personal Information Questions directly related to HEC dissolution
*Full questionnaire is available in Appendix

Personal information was very important in order to analyze the status of our sample. In second part there were five most important questions to know the opinion of our target sample.

Survey Method and Sample Selection

Survey was conducted online by National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS). A Google form was prepared and sent to all the member of NAYS. So our target sample was young researchers, scientists and students of Pakistan working in different prestigious scientific Institutes worldwide. As they may be the people directly or indirectly effect by the decision of Government.

Response of Sample
In a short period of less than one month about 400 people show their response. Among respondents male were in majority with 305(76.25%) participants and female participants were 95(23.75%) as shown in Figure: 1. Out of 400 participants 276 were students and remaining either have

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completed their studies or working as doctors, engineers, assistant professors, lecturers or researchers at different reputed institutes. No. of participants with different qualification were as MS/M.phil 138(34.5%), PhDs

99(24.75%), B.Sc/B.Sc (hons.) 65(16.25%), M.Sc 62(15.5%) and Others 36(9%) respectively as shown in Figure: 2. Others include doctors, engineers and pharmacists etc.

Gender
350 No of Participants 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Male Female

Figure: 1

Qualification
160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 BSc/BSc (Hons) MSc M.Phil PhD Others No of Participants

Figure: 2

Findings
Five questions were raised to know the exact perception of the science graduates. First question was Do you agree with the Governments decision to NAYS Survey dissolve HEC? 94.5%(378) participants were disagree and only 4%(16) were agree, 0.25%(2) of them dont know and the other 1.25%(5) either didnt reply or

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they were in favor of partial dissolution as shown in figure: 3.

Do you agree with the Government's decision to dissolve HEC? 100 80 Percentage 60 40 20 0 Yes No Dont Know others

Figure: 3

The second question was raised as Do you think that resistance to HEC dissolution is the violation of 18th amendment? 63.75%(255) participants said No and 16.75%(67) said Yes, 17.75%(71) Dont know about 18th

amendment and Others 1.75%(7) either didnt reply or they had their own perception that shows that they dont know more about the affect of 18th amendment on HEC as shown in figure: 4.

Do you think that resistance to HEC dissolution is the violation of 18th amendment? 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Yes No Dont Know others

Percentage

Figure: 4

Third question was In most of the countries Higher Education Affairs are handled by foreign government. As shown in figure: 5 answer of 72.25%(289) participants was Yes and of 7.75%(31) was No, 17.5%(70)

participants Dont know about this and Others 2.5%(10) either didnt reply or had their own perception as one of them said even if they do, why should we copy them and another said If they are not handled by federal govt., they should HEC Dissolution

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be. Its very much important for any country.

In most of the countries Higher Education Affairs are handled by federal government? 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Yes No Dont Know others

Percentage

Figure: 5

Fourth question was There should be same standards of higher education for all provinces and if HEC is devolved to provinces than it will not be possible. As shown in figure: 6 answer of 84.25%(337) was Yes and of 9%(36)

was No, 3%(9) Dont know about that and Others 3.75%(15) either didnt reply or had their own perception and most of them said that some aspects should be administered by federal government.

There should be same standards of higher education for all provinces and if HEC is devolved to provinces than it will not be possible? 100 Percentage 80 60 40 20 0 Yes No Dont Know others

Figure: 6

Last question asked to young science graduates was what will be the fate of all young scholars who are studying in Pakistan or abroad if HEC is dissolved? NAYS Survey

And there were different replies but according to most of them the condition will be terrible and it will be a huge destruction for nation. One of them said

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that it would be same as someones father died and he had to search for job instead of studies. And a very interesting answer about foreign scholars was After dissolution they will be like a soldier who has crossed the river but after victory when he returns to the river bank he realizes the boat which was to carry him to his home land is not available.......so the victory is of no use for his country and he has to absorb in the same nation. And very few people supported this decision.

Discussion
Downfall of a nation starts with the demise of its education system. And the devolution of higher education is the sure recipe of the destruction of our nation. It is one of the few federal bodies which are functional in their real sense. India is going to construct HEC and we are going to demolish it. As some critics argue that there is an urgent need to invest in primary and secondary education as compared to tertiary education. But the question is, will it be helpful to develop our economy? As now a days those countries who are In the last week of March we passed through a dismal news of HEC dissolution, so many questions raised in different minds. Most of the students were against this decision as they protested at different cities and results of this survey also showed that, 378 out of 400 science graduates were against this decision of dissolution. Most of the people think that provinces dont have the capacity to take the responsibility of higher education. They are not paying attention even to primary and secondary education than what will be the fate of higher education in their hands? All the VCs are also united against this decision. When we talk about the stance of political parties then their statements dont vary as government or oppositions investing more and more in their higher education are progressing at a much rapid rate. Examples of Srilanka is in front of us they spend much on primary education with a literacy rate of 97% but not on higher education so its economy is not flourishing. In comparison South Korea, Singapore and Hongkong etc invested money at all the levels specially the tertiary one and their economic growth is overwhelming. So there is a need to spend huge money at all the levels of education. but on provincial basis. Politicians of Punjab are not favoring this decision but most of the politicians of KPK and Baluchistan are favoring this decision and there is a mix response from Sindh which shows mistrust. Next question is what is the effect of 18th amendment on HEC? Firstly HEC as an autonomous body directly reports to PM, not the Education Ministry. So we should keep them as separate entities. 63.75% participants considered that resistance to HEC dissolution is not the violation of 18th amendment. This shows that most of them know about the effect of 18th amendment on HEC dissolution. 18th amendment through the specific provision basically protects HEC as a federal body. Item no 16, 17, 32 and 59 of Fourth schedule [Article 70(4)] : HEC Dissolution

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Federal legislative list part 1 and Item no. 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 17 of Fourth schedule [Article 70(4) : Federal legislative list part II basically protect HEC as a federal body instead of devolving it. So it is also considered by many people either as a lunacy or revenge on its accusation of checking fake degrees of parliamentarians. Next question is, in developed and developing countries is higher education a federal subject? The answer to this question is yes in many countries Higher Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology that are in direct relation of HEC are federal subject. The countries in which higher education is under federal ministry include China, India, Malaysia, South Koria, Turkey, Japan, Egypt, Indonesia, Singapore and UK etc. 289 science graduates considered Higher education as a federal subject in most of the countries. Another question raised in the minds of most of the science graduates is that by devolving HEC to provinces, the concept of homogeneity of higher education will come to end. And 337 out of 400 graduates agreed that this decision will spoil the homogeneity of higher education in all the provinces. Many critics of HEC argue that in this way inter provincial competition will increase. But the question is if they even could not compete on primary and secondary education levels, how will they compete at tertiary level of education? Others who are against the HEC devolution argue that the fragmentation of HEC even may lead to the fragmentation of our nation. Last question is what will be the fate of HEC scholars after the devolution of HEC? And the answer is, that will be NAYS Survey resulted in an automatic brain drain. If they were not provided a good environment here to work, they will not come back. And the huge money which HEC had invested on the scholars will be of no use.

Conclusion
In the present scenario when our nation is already confronting at many fronts like terrorism, corruption and energy crises etc, fragmentation of HEC will be proved as a bad omen. As no ordinary person is an angel, similarly none of the statutory is flawless. But what we have to do is to watch the overall efficiency. And if we compare the achievements and flaws of HEC than it will be realized that HEC showed overwhelming progress and proved itself as a functional body. And its overnight fragmentation will be proved as a monumental destruction. Even the critics of HEC like Prof. Dr Hoodbhoy were not in the favor of overnight devolution of HEC to the provinces, as the provinces didnt have the capacity to perform the function of HEC. And even if they have, still there are several functions that should be performed by an autonomous body like HEC under federal government. Many prestigious scientists like Dr A. Q. khan and many analyzers like Tallat Hussain were also not in the favor of devolution of HEC. Finally a good decision was taken by PM on April 28, 2011 that federal government continue the funding of HEC upto the next NFC Award in 2014. But the question is what will be the fate of HEC after the next NFC Award? Keeping in view the opinion of young science graduates a better option will be as, HEC keep working as a federal autonomous body and at the mean time provinces pay their full

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attention to the primary and secondary education. In that way provinces may win the trust of people, and at the meanwhile dismal condition of primary and secondary education can be improved. It is very important to work at all the three levels of education at the mean time, because, if tertiary education is essential for economic development than primary and secondary education plays a key role in social development that will help us to combat terrorism. http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/07/perva iz-too-jumps-hec-bandwagon.html http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/08/vcsof-130-varsities-seek-reversal-ofdecision-on-hec.html http://www.columnpk.com/tag/hecdevolution/page/6/ http://app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option =com_content&task=view&id=136060 &Itemid=2 http://tribune.com.pk/story/146708/hecdissolution-challenged-in-lhc/ http://dailytimespakistan.com/dissolutio n-of-hec-challenged-in-sc/ http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/ 04/ag-served-notice-on-hec-dissolution/ http://www.sananews.net/english/2011/0 4/10/sc-to-hear-hec-devolution-case-ontomorrow/ http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=41054&Cat=2&dt=4/11/ 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/11/prime -minister-has-shelved-hec-devolutionfor-now.html http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=5252&Cat=13&dt=4/12/ 2011 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=5261&Cat=13&dt=4/13/ 2011

References
http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/issue 2002/issue34/etc3.htm http://pkpolitics.com/2010/04/03/summa ry-of-18th-amendment/ http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/27/refor ming-the-education-system.html http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/issue 2002/issue34/etc3.htm http://hecnationalconference.blogspot.com/ http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=4979&Cat=13&dt=3/30/ 2011 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=5026&Cat=13&dt=4/2/2 011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/06/govtsticks-to-hec-devolution-plan.html http://dailytimespakistan.com/govtsticks-to-hec-devolution-plan/

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http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/13/hecdevolution-issue-divides-parties-onprovincial-lines.html http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=44219&Cat=2&dt=4/29/ 2011 http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/23/khybe r-pakhtunkhwa-to-have-own-hec.html http://www.columnspk.com/hecdevolution-editorial-by-dawn/ http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=4990&Cat=13&dt=3/31/ 2011 http://www.columnspk.com/misundersto od-hec%E2%80%99s-devolution-p-i-bydr-pervez-tahir/ http://www.columnspk.com/misundersto od-hec%E2%80%99s-devolution-p-iiby-dr-pervez-tahir/ http://tribune.com.pk/story/145659/politi cising-higher-education/ http://thebluerickshaw.blogspot.com/201 1/04/9-years-ago-2-exceptional-menmoved.html?spref=fb http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrint Detail.aspx?ID=40548&Cat=9&dt=4/8/2 011 http://www.worldof22.com/2011/04/hecdissolution-creates-stir-across.html http://www.columnspk.com/hechiccups-editorial-by-express-tribune/ http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/apr201 1-weekly/nos-10-04-2011/pol1.htm#1 NAYS Survey http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as p?page=2011%5C04%5C10%5Cstory_1 0-4-2011_pg3_1 http://www.pkcolumns.com/2011/04/12/ devolution-fundamentalists-vs-hecchamchaas-by-mosharraf-zaidi/ http://timesofpakistan.pk/editorials/2011 -04-14/hec-confusion/30916/ http://www.columnpk.com/tag/hecdevolution/page/3/ http://www.columnpk.com/specialreport-about-hec-devolution-functionsand-achievements-in-urdu/ http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/20/educa tional-secularism.html http://www.columnpk.com/tag/hecdevolution/ http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/04/nodevolution-without-responsibility.html http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id =85449 http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/30 5399 http://www.findingnew.com/education/h ec-devolution-hec-and-18th-amendmentin-pakistan-hec-performance-hecscholarship-program/ http://www.columnpk.com/hec-issuetime-to-save-the-higher-educationcommission-by-dr-atta-ur-rehman/ http://www.riazhaq.com/2011/04/hecsindispensable-role-in-pakistans.html

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http://savepakuniversities.blogspot.com/ 2011/04/bringing-down-hec-by-khawarghumman.html http://www.columnpk.com/hecfunctions-and-achievements-in-urdu/ http://www.columnpk.com/hecdevolution-issue-latest-updates-abouthec-dissolution/ http://www.pmln.org.pk/editorials/en_13 76_rip-hec.pmln http://www.pmln.org/editorials/en_1399 _hec's-fate.pmln http://a.com.pk/dissolution-of-highereducation-commission-hec-pakistan/ http://ashfaqshinwary.wordpress.com/20 11/04/05/hec-dissolution-to-provinciallevel/ http://www.123people.se/s/ashfaq+ahma d http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/ 04/pu-students-protest-against-hecdissolution/ http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/11/oldravians-oppose-hec-dissolution.html

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Appendix: Questionnaire (HEC Dissolution)

INTRODUCTION: All of you know that now a days government is trying to dissolve HEC so our team decided to conduct a survey. And we are the people who may be directly affected by this decision. Thats why we want to know your opinion. OBJECTIVES: As you all are the voice of this nation and being well educated people your opinion matters a lot. And by our survey our main objective is to raise the voice of all young researchers and scientists at national and international forums. So please contribute, this will not take more than five or ten minutes to fill it but it can change many things for the betterment of our nation. How to fill it? There are two parts of this survey: 1-First part is related to your basic information and that will be kept highly confidential. 2-second part comprises of the questions that are related directly to our survey topic. Personal Information This portion is necessary to fill as it will be very helpful for us while writing final report and that will be kept highly confidential. We shall be very thankful to you for taking part in this survey. 1- Gender? o Male o Female 2-Are you a student? o Yes o No 3- Qualification? o B. Sc (hons.) o M.Sc o MS or M.phil o PhD 4- Your brief introduction? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ NAYS Survey

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HEC dissolution Here is a simple questionnaire that is very easy to fill. We shall be very thankful to you for taking part in this survey. 1-Do you agree with the Government's decision to dissolve HEC? o Yes o No o Dont know o Others___________________________ 2-Do you think that resistance to HEC dissolution is the violation of 18th amendment? o Yes o No o Dont know o Others___________________________ 3- In most of the countries Higher Education Affairs are handled by federal government. o Yes o No o Dont know o Others___________________________ 4- There should be same standards of higher education for all provinces and if HEC is devolved to provinces than it will not be possible. o Yes o No o Dont know o Others___________________________ 5-What will be the fate of all young scholars who are studying in Pakistan as well as abroad if HEC is dissolved? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Thanks for your precious time.

*You can view the published form here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFp4OHZ1VXFQZkdsWXd2VDNLeX15 X1E6

HEC Dissolution