The 13th urgent Meeting of the Commission, HEC’s apex governing body, was held recently to deliberate on multiple dimensions of the country’s higher education landscape. The session marked a significant moment as Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chaired his first meeting as Chairman HEC since assuming charge, setting an action-focused tone for the agenda.
Participants at the HEC meeting discussed strategic challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan’s higher learning institutions, with particular attention to governance, academic standards and institutional resilience. Commissioners reviewed the need for stronger, more robust systems and policies to ensure that universities meet national and international expectations.
In addressing quality assurance and innovation, the Commission emphasized prioritising structural integrity and academic excellence across campuses. The HEC meeting highlighted plans to drive improvements in oversight, accreditation practices and institutional support so that Pakistani universities can become more globally competitive.
The vision presented at the HEC meeting received broad backing from distinguished members in attendance, including Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq, Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, Dr. Syed Sohail H. Naqvi, Dr. Sarwat Ismail, Dr. Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Mr. Saleh Muhammad Baloch, Engr. Dr. Ehsanullah Kakar, Dr. Arabella Bhutto, Dr. Samreen Hussain, Dr. Farid Ahmad Khan, Dr. Syed Zahoor Hassan, Dr. Zahoor Ahmed Bazai, Ms. Mahwish Faraz Lakhani, Dr. Imran Ullah Marwat and Dr. Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan.
Members committed to translate deliberations from the HEC meeting into concrete policy measures and oversight mechanisms, aiming to strengthen governance, enhance quality assurance and promote innovation across the higher education sector in Pakistan.
