Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Prof. Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has urged federal and provincial governments to play a more active role in strengthening Pakistan’s higher education sector, highlighting that only 0.22 percent of the national budget is currently allocated to universities a figure he termed alarmingly low.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Higher Education in Pakistan: Governance, Finance and Quality” hosted by Punjab University’s Institute of Education & Research (IER), Dr Ahmed stressed that numerous institutions are struggling to cover essential expenses from salaries and pensions to electricity bills.

He urged educators to remain focused on academic duties rather than internal political conflicts.

To address governance and quality shortcomings, the HEC chief advocated for stricter compliance with institutional rules and increased collaboration between provincial and federal bodies. He also recommended involving industry leaders in academic councils to revamp curricula to meet modern demands

Dr Amjad Abbas Magsi, President of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, criticized current processes for appointing vice‑chancellors highlighting that many universities have operated in an “ad hoc” manner for over two years, leading to administrative difficulties.

He warned that bypassing merit and appointing non‑PhDs in universities is detrimental to governance and academic standards.

Former HEC Executive Director Dr Sohail Naqvi noted that, despite around 40,000 annual publications, research outputs remain disconnected from societal needs. He also pointed out that Pakistan invests only 1.4 percent of GDP on education, which must increase to fully harness the youth’s potential.

Additional remarks from IER faculty underscored the positive impact of having education ranked top in Pakistan by Times Higher Education. However, systemic challenges persisted following the decentralisation of the sector via the 18th Amendment.

Dr Ahmed emphasized that both HEC and provincial bodies like PHEC must forge stronger partnerships to foster sustainable improvements.