Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has decided to transform GC University, Government College for Women University (GCWC), and the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) into model institutions. During a special meeting, she received a detailed briefing from the Higher Education Department, highlighting ongoing reforms to improve education quality across the province.
In a major development, foreign universities from the UK, Korea, and Kazakhstan have shown interest in opening campuses in Punjab. Notably, the University of London, University of Brunel, and University of Leicester have offered to set up their branch campuses. This step aims to promote international-level education within the province and attract more students.
To improve performance, the government will implement a Key Performance Indicators (KPI) system in public universities. Vice Chancellors will be evaluated based on this system. The establishment of a College Management Council and the introduction of color-coded university rankings—green, blue, yellow, and gray—were also proposed to ensure transparency and accountability in education.
Moreover, CM Maryam Nawaz approved the creation of an Education Vigilance Squad. This squad will monitor attendance, cleanliness, teaching quality, and take immediate action on reported issues under the Education Minister’s supervision. A report on underperforming and inactive colleges, especially commerce institutions, has also been requested.
The meeting emphasized improving research, teaching standards, digital transformation, and global connectivity in universities. It also reviewed the Higher Education Strategic Plan 2025–29 and the Chief Minister Punjab Honhar Scholarship and Laptop Scheme, which received over 19,000 applications from across Pakistan.
Lastly, the government gave in-principle approval to host Punjab’s first Higher Education Conference. The conference will focus on governance reforms, institutional autonomy, and prioritizing human resource development to uplift Punjab’s higher education system.