**PHEC Hosts High-Level Meeting with Vice Chancellors to Accelerate Reforms in Punjab’s Higher Education**
The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) convened a strategic meeting with vice chancellors and academic leaders to formulate a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at strengthening universities across Punjab. The session, chaired by PHEC Chairperson Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on measures designed to enhance institutional capacity, research output, and long-term sustainability in the higher education sector.
The meeting assembled prominent figures from Punjab’s academic landscape, including Mr. Muzammil Mehmood, Commission Member of PHEC; Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir, Vice Chancellor of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore; Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi, Vice Chancellor of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU); Prof. Dr. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry, Vice Chancellor of Government College University (GCU) Lahore; and Mr. Naveed Akbar from the University of Chenab, Gujrat. Directors General and senior officials from PHEC were also in attendance.
Participants engaged in discussions centered on upgrading university infrastructure, bolstering research capacity, and ensuring financial viability. The deliberations underscored the need for innovation-driven academic growth, stressing the importance of research excellence, industry-academic collaboration, and digital transformation as critical components of a modernized higher education environment. Strategies for financial resilience and sustainable development were also prioritized during the exchanges.
Chairperson Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan reaffirmed PHEC’s dedication to equipping universities in Punjab to overcome existing challenges and prepare for the evolving demands of a knowledge-based economy. He highlighted the Commission’s ongoing commitment to providing policy guidance, strategic planning, and capacity-building support to drive meaningful progress in the sector.
This collaborative initiative represents a significant advancement in Punjab’s pursuit of aligning higher education with international academic standards and the broader objectives of sustainable development.
