The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan not to consider legislative proposals for establishing universities without prior clearance from the commission.
In a letter sent to the NA speaker and Senate chairman, HEC Chairman Niaz Ahmad Akhtar said all proposals to establish universities or higher education institutions should first be reviewed by the commission.
He said prior clearance would ensure alignment with the national regulatory framework, maintain academic standards, and prevent operational complications after legislation.
According to the HEC, some universities in the past were established through legislative acts without the commission’s technical evaluation.
As a result, several institutions later faced difficulties in starting academic operations due to faculty shortages, infrastructure gaps, a lack of endowment funds, and governance issues.
The commission emphasized that, as the statutory regulator under the Higher Education Commission Ordinance 2002, it must verify that institutions meet minimum academic and quality standards before receiving degree-awarding status.
The HEC also reminded lawmakers that federal cabinet-approved guidelines require feasibility evaluation, infrastructure inspection, faculty verification, and review of governance frameworks before granting a university charter.
Separately, the HEC announced the launch of the National Skill Competency Test for IT graduates.
The test has been developed on the prime minister’s directives in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board, and the Pakistan Software Houses Association to improve the employability and industry readiness of IT graduates in Pakistan.
Visit EduNation to find scholarships from around the world.
