KP VCs Forum vows concerted efforts to advance higher education

Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar hosted a conference of Vice Chancellors and Rectors serving the universities in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, bringing together academic leadership, policymakers, and key stakeholders to deliberate a coordinated strategy for the advancement of higher education, research, and institutional development in the province

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2026) Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar hosted a conference of Vice Chancellors and Rectors serving the universities in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, bringing together academic leadership, policymakers, and key stakeholders to deliberate a coordinated strategy for the advancement of higher education, research, and institutional development in the province.

The conference also featured a prestigious Research Excellence Award ceremony, wherein 216 researchers and scientists from the province were honoured for being ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists.

Minister for Higher Education KP Meena Khan Afridi was the chief guest of the event, while Chairman HEC Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar graced the occasion with his presence as guest of honour. Secretary, Higher Education Department KP Dr Muhammad Israr Khan, Executive Director HEC Dr Zia Ul Haq, and former Executive Director HEC, Dr Sohail H. Naqvi were also among the participants.

A key highlight of the conference was the participation of the heads of all Divisions of HEC, who delivered comprehensive briefings on academic development, research initiatives, scholarships, quality assurance, innovation, information technology, and commercialisation efforts underway in the province.

In his remarks, Mr Meena Khan Afridi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving governance and quality in universities.

Highlighting the KP government’s reform agenda for the higher education sector, he underlined that necessary legislation will soon be initiated at the departmental level to support the upcoming reforms.

He announced that the government funding to universities would be linked to performance indicators, while the Vice Chancellors’ performance would be formally evaluated every two years.

He also pledged to put in place a transparent accountability mechanism to replace underperforming heads of institutions.

He revealed that a provincial higher education task force, a part of the reform agenda, is expected to receive the cabinet’s approval soon.

The minister stated that the provincial government has increased the endowment fund from Rs 2.1 billion to Rs 5.2 billion.

He asserted that free education will be provided to first- and second-year female students and orphans, while paid internships for all graduates will be introduced from the next year to enhance employability and equal opportunities for youth.

He emphasised aligning research with societal needs and reiterated the government’s resolve to establish a modern, competitive, and research-driven higher education system in the province.

Addressing the audience, Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar pointed out that the HEC budget remained stagnant at Rs 65 billion over the past decade with nominal increases.

He noted that student enrolment in Pakistan’s higher education sector has grown from 1.4 million in 2015 to 3.5 million currently, reflecting significant expansion.

He emphasised the need for measures to enhance academic competitiveness and improve the representation of KP universities in the international rankings.

He expressed his appreciation that, despite financial and administrative challenges, universities in the province have a commendable 53% PhD faculty ratio — higher than the national average and an encouraging increase in student enrolment.

In his welcome remarks earlier, Dr Zia Ul Haq emphasised the importance of institutional synergy, modern policymaking, and effective leadership to elevate universities in the province to international standards.

He noted that the gathering of Vice Chancellors under one roof provided a valuable opportunity to identify practical solutions to the challenges faced by the higher education sector.

Dr Sohail H. Naqvi, in his keynote presentation, stressed the need for improving research output, strengthening institutional stability, and ensuring sustainable development.

He underscored the importance of granting greater autonomy to universities, improving governance, and integrating artificial intelligence into research evaluation processes.

Dr Muhammad Israr Khan presented a detailed overview of ongoing reforms, governance models, and future priorities aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the higher education system. This was followed by in-depth presentations from various HEC departments covering finance, planning and development, research and innovation, scholarships, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation, and information technology.

Chairman KP Vice Chancellors Forum Dr Sadiq Khattak and other notable university heads also expressed their views, as the conference concluded with a renewed commitment to working collaboratively to strengthen the higher education landscape of KP in line with global standards.