Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)

Higher Education Commission
ہائر ایجوکیشن کمیشن
Agency overview
Formed11 September 2002; 22 years ago (2002-09-11)
Preceding agency
  • University Grants Commission
JurisdictionPakistan
HeadquartersIslamabad-44000
33°40′N 73°03′E / 33.67°N 73.05°E / 33.67; 73.05
MottoFacilitating Institutes of higher learning to serve as an Engine of Growth for the Socio-Economic Development of Pakistan
Annual budget₨. 102.4 billion (2013–14)[1]
Agency executives
  • Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman
  • Dr. Shaista Sohail[2], Executive Director
Websitehec.gov.pk

The Higher Education Commission (colloquially known as HEC) is a statutory body formed by the Government of Pakistan which was established in 2002 under the Chairmanship of Atta-ur-Rahman. Its main functions are funding, overseeing, regulating and accrediting the higher education institutions in the country.

It was first established in 1974 as University Grants Commission (UGC), and came into its modern form on 11 September 2002 after Atta-ur-Rahman's reforms, which received international praise. The commission is responsible for formulating higher education policy and quality assurance to meet the international standards as well as providing accrediting academic degrees, development of new institutions and uplift of existing institutions in Pakistan.[3]

The commission also facilitated the development of higher educational system in the country with the main purpose of upgrading the universities and degree awarding institutes in the country to be focal point of the high learning of education, research and development. Over several years, it has played an important and leading role towards building a knowledge-based economy in Pakistan by giving out hundreds of doctoral scholarships for education abroad every year.[4]

  1. ^ Rizwan-ul-Haq (13 June 2013). "Budget 2013–14: Higher education gets attention, finally". June 13, 2013. Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  2. ^ "HEC extends tenure of Shaista Sohail". The News International (newspaper). 8 August 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Silent Revolution in Higher Education – Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS (NI, HI, SI, TI) | FIRD – Forum for International Relations Development". www.fird.org.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  4. ^ Dr. Javaid R Laghari appointed HEC Chairman, The Nation, 27 August 2009, archived from the original on 13 April 2013, retrieved 11 January 2012