HEC mandates AI course for all undergraduate, postgraduate programmes from Fall 2026

Decision comes in response to rapidly evolving global educational and technological landscape, where AI is playing a critical role across sectors such as education, healthcare, economy and governance

KARACHI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Feb 19^th, 2026) The Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC) on Thursday directed all public and private universities across the country to introduce a mandatory three-credit-hour course on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

The decision comes in response to the rapidly evolving global educational and technological landscape, where AI is playing a critical role across sectors such as education, healthcare, economy and governance.

The initiative aligns Pakistan’s higher education system with international trends, ensuring students develop the necessary technical and ethical competencies to thrive in AI-driven environments.

In a letter to university heads, the HEC Executive Director emphasized that AI education is no longer an optional enhancement but a pressing necessity. The course aims to equip students with practical understanding of digital literacy, ethical responsibility, data privacy, transparency, and social impact, enabling them to acquire skills in line with international standards.

The letter further states that universities may offer the AI course as an elective, interdisciplinary course, or as a supporting subject within degree programs. The curriculum must cover fundamental AI concepts, applications across various sectors, ethical requirements, justice, and accountability. Institutions are also permitted to customize course content according to the nature of the program.

EC has instructed that the AI course be implemented from the Fall 2026 academic session for all degree programs. The move is designed to prepare Pakistani students to play an effective role in a world increasingly shaped by AI and to enhance the national economy’s competitiveness on a global scale.