Punjab Higher Education Leadership Reviews Key Reforms; USP Rector Praises PHEC’s Vision

Professor Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Rector of the University of Southern Punjab (USP) in Multan, participated in a high-level meeting convened by Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), on October 21, 2026. The meeting brought together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and representatives of public- and private-sector universities across Punjab to deliberate on key reforms and emerging priorities in higher education.

The meeting began with a Fateha for the departed wife of the PHEC Chairperson, as participants expressed their heartfelt condolences and prayed for the departed soul.

The discussions covered several significant initiatives, including the CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship Program, the upcoming Honhaar Punjab Innovation and Technology (PINTECH) Expo 2026, proposed legislation governing the appointment of Registrars, Treasurers, and Controllers of Examinations, and the implementation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Performance-Based Ranking (PBR) framework.

Participants also deliberated on PHEC’s regulatory and accreditation responsibilities, the proposed Special Competitive Pay Scale (SCPS) framework for faculty careers, monitoring PSDP-funded development projects, the use of Clear Plus for PhD thesis assessment, and institutional responses to retracted research publications.

The forum offered an important opportunity for university leaders to exchange perspectives on strengthening governance, improving academic quality, promoting research integrity, and enhancing institutional accountability across Punjab’s higher education sector.

Professor Emeritus Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Rector of the University of Southern Punjab Multan, Pakistan, lauded PHEC’s proactive leadership and consultative approach, and thanked Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan and his team for bringing together university leadership to address critical policy and institutional challenges. He emphasized that sustained collaboration between PHEC and universities is essential to advance academic excellence, strengthen transparent governance, foster innovation, and ensure that higher education institutions remain responsive to the needs of students, industry, and society.