Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on establishing new Federal and Provincial Universities and reviewing draft Bills for university charters.

It was noted that the 2002 criteria for establishing universities is outdated and no longer aligned with current academic, research, and market needs.

Ishaq Dar stressed the need to modernise the framework to ensure new institutions meet international standards of quality education, and research excellence.

It was decided that HEC will revise the criteria for establishing Universities by 1st of June 2026 and all pending cases will be evaluated under the updated framework once finalised.

The discussion also covered university performance, disciplines, global rankings, and the importance of prioritising fields in demand internationally.

DPM/FM emphasised that higher education must deliver strong outcomes in employability, innovation, and research impact, equipping graduates for both domestic and global opportunities.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah Khan, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Education, HEC leadership, Rector NUST, and senior officials from relevant ministries.