Islamabad: According to HEC media, The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has issued revised curricula for Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees in Zoology, developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. The National Curriculum Review Committee (NCRC), chaired by Prof.

Dr. Amina Zuberi of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, with Mr. Muhammad Ali Baig, Deputy Director at HEC as Secretary, developed the updated curricula.

The committee included experts from leading universities including Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Government College University, Faisalabad, Government College University, Lahore, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, University of Baltistan, Skardu, University of Peshawar, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, University of Swat, University of the Punjab, Lahore, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.

The revised Associate Degree requires 71 credit hours, while BS Zoology now has 137 credit hours. New major courses include Diversity of Invertebrates, Diversity of Chordates, Animal Ecology, Marine Biology, and Fisheries and Aquaculture, whereas, interdisciplinary additions include Computational Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Plant Physiology and Ecology, and Biostatistics.

The BS Zoology curriculum also offers specializations in Animal Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Biotechnology, Entomology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mammalogy, Marine Biology, Parasitology, and Wildlife Biology. Universities may introduce additional specializations per HEC guidelines. For BS Zoology, a supervised internship and capstone, each of three credits are now mandatory.

The MS Zoology curriculum includes a research component and six electives, with course offerings based on faculty expertise and area of specialization. The revised curricula cover eligibility criteria, learning outcomes, and degree requirements, with universities determining course content in line with industry needs.

HEC in its notification issued on 12th February 2025 has advised universities to implement the revised standards promptly to enhance the quality of zoology education in Pakistan.