Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18 March 2026) Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan It formally reaffirmed its role as the sole national authority charged with developing, notifying and maintaining the regulatory framework for higher education, including the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), curriculum development and faculty standards.
In a letter addressed to the presidents and presidents of all accreditation boards, the HEC emphasized that while discipline-specific boards play a vital role in accrediting undergraduate programs and professional standards, the overall policy and regulatory infrastructure remain the exclusive prerogative of the HEC under the provisions of the HEC Act of 2002, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
The communication explains that the accreditation boards operate strictly within the broader framework established by the Supreme Elections Commission.
Specifically, the HEC retains exclusive authority over system-wide regulatory matters, including:
• Formulate and communicate national standards and policies to the top education In Pakistan;
• Establishing minimum standards and criteria for academic programs and qualifications offered by higher education institutions.
• Develop academic policies and curricula for all programs and specializations
• Develop and communicate policies and standards related to the appointment and evaluation of faculty in higher education institutions. and
• Ensuring uniformity and coherence in quality assurance mechanisms across the higher education system.
One of the main clarifications in the guidance relates to advanced academic programmes. Citing the Higher Education Policy (GEP-2023), the HEC stated that programs at level 7 (MA/MA/MA or equivalent) and level 8 (PhD/PhD) fall directly under the academic regulatory mandate of the HEC.
Since these programs are research-based, formulating policies regarding faculty eligibility, supervisory requirements, and quality standards is the exclusive prerogative of the authority.
The HEC has directed all accreditation boards to ensure that any standards, guidelines or accreditation standards they develop are fully consistent with HEC policies. This includes ensuring that provisions relating to faculty qualifications, experience and research publications are consistent with standards set by the HEC to maintain national uniformity.
To enhance coordination and cohesion in the higher education sector, the HEC highlighted the implementation of the Pakistan Principles, Standards and Guidelines (PSG-2023).
This internationally standardized framework integrates institutional governance, learning outcomes, research quality and accreditation oversight. Furthermore, the Review and Effectiveness of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Bodies (REQAAB) framework has been activated to regulate and standardize the accreditation boards themselves through mandatory self-evaluation and external review.
The guidance has been issued to a wide range of boards, including the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Pharmacy Council, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), and several education accrediting bodies such as the National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE), the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), and the National Accreditation Council. a job National Education Accreditation Council (NBEAC), among others.
The authority affirmed its commitment to promoting a robust, transparent and internationally comparable system for ensuring the quality of higher education in Pakistan through continued cooperation with all accreditation boards.