In Pakistan, international donor agencies have a strong and deep influence in every sector. The emergence of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is among them. In 2002, the federal government of Pakistan established the HEC based on the recommendation of the Task Force designated by the World Bank. Before HEC, the University Grants Commission (UGC) was responsible for grants in higher education in Pakistan. However, HEC was established to promote quality higher education and provide financial assistance to higher education institutions.
Since its inception, if we leave aside the task of promoting quality higher education and financial assistance, the HEC performed its activities exceptionally. The HEC has become an office for the ruling political party. It is almost invariably used for political purposes. In Pakistan, politicians often prefer projects of the kind where they construct high buildings, roads and flyovers. Due to their large volume and the physical appearance of such interventions, later people vote for them in general elections. The rapidly increasing number of universities in Pakistan is a particular example in this regard.
Before HEC, the number of universities in Pakistan was 50-60. In 2005 it jumped to 110, reaching 186 universities in 2017, and now in 2024, according to the website of HEC, there are 261 universities in Pakistan.
The ruling political party also uses recruitment and appointments in or by HEC for their political gains. Mostly, the appointment of the HEC chairman is based on political affiliation. In very rare cases is the appointment of a chairman truly merit-based. Furthermore, if the chairman is appointed on a merit basis, high political pressure and unnecessary instructions by politicians lead to the resignation of the chairman. The former HEC chairman Dr Tariq Banuri was pressurised and forced to resign from his post as he was against the current pattern of higher education in Pakistan and also advocated reforms in this crucial sector.
Along with the appointment of the HEC chairman, the appointment of vice-chancellors in public-sector universities has been also highly politicised. Every political party has a pool of professors for the post of vice-chancellors. When someone completes his/her tenure at a particular public sector university soon he/she is appointed as vice chancellor to another public sector university. The recent clash between the CM and Governor of Punjab about the appointment of twenty-five vice-chancellors in public sector universities of Punjab manifests the politicisation of HEC.
According to various sources from print media, the Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz interviewed professors for the vacant posts of vice-chancellor in Punjab. Here the question arises: how she can interview professors? Does she have experience and a degree to interview professors?
In very rare cases is the appointment of a chairman truly merit-based. Furthermore, if the chairman is appointed on a merit basis, high political pressure and unnecessary instructions by politicians lead to the resignation of the chairman
In addition to this, a candidate for vice-chancellor for GC University Lahore got high marks in the whole process, but his appointment was not notified and soon this post will be advertised again. According to media reports, the main reason for his rejection was his past action as vice-chancellor. He invited the ex-prime minister and founder of PTI to address students during his first tenure as Vice Chancellor of GC University Lahore.
The impact of politicisation on higher education institutions and HEC goes far beyond the increasing number of universities and appointments/recruitments. It has also negatively impacted the internal affairs of various public-sector universities. In most public sector universities, the professors, lecturers and administrative staff do not have proper coordination and collaboration. Instead of uplifting the standards of higher education, they have divided themselves into different groups and work for their self-interest. The one that has support from the ruling political party usually dominates all internal affairs of the university. This association is bi-directional, both university staff and politicians fight for their mutual benefits. A few days ago, the Syndicate of Karachi University cancelled the LLB degree of Justice Tariq Mehboob of the Islamabad High Court. This action became suspicious when one of the members of the syndicate, Dr Riaz Ahmed, was picked up and disappeared by police before the important meeting about Justice Tariq’s degree. Dr Riaz was an opponent of the degree cancellation of Justice Tariq.
The unnecessary political interference has already led to a degeneration of higher education in Pakistan. Now public sector universities are working as political offices instead of providing high-standard higher education. In fact, various researchers and educationalists have gone so far as to challenge the very existence of HEC, due to its politicisation.
Now for the growth and development of Pakistan, serious reforms for higher education have become a prerequisite condition. The HEC needs to be more transparent. After the 18th Amendment, the education portfolio was moved to the provincial government, but still, HEC was not devolved to the provincial level. Such devolution may or may not be a perfect solution, but it would surely contribute to reducing the politicisation of HEC as it exists.
Appointments of the chairman of HEC, as well as vice-chancellors and professors of universities, should be transparent. The recruitment committee should be apolitical and consist of educationalists and researchers. The politicisation of HEC can be eroded by banning the reappointment of single persons in different public sector universities.
In most public sector universities, vice-chancellors retire simultaneously and then the same person is appointed to another university.
It is the right time for our political forces and educational authorities to turn a new leaf and align the quality of higher education in Pakistan with the best international standards.