HEC Constitutes 22-Member Task Force to Develop National University Rankings

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has constituted a 22-member National Task Force to develop a national ranking system for universities across Pakistan, according to an official press release. The move marks a step toward giving students, parents and institutions a structured, locally relevant benchmark for higher education quality.

The task force will review and finalize a proposed national university ranking framework that draws on internationally recognized methodologies while taking Pakistan's higher education landscape into account. Members will examine key ranking indicators, their relative weightages, assessment methods, data requirements, verification procedures and scoring mechanisms to ensure the system is fair and transparent.

HEC has appointed Dr. Ghulam Mustafa, Director of the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), as the task force's convenor. Muhammad Ali Baig, National Coordinator for National University Rankings and Deputy Director of HEC's Higher Education Data Repository, will serve as secretary.

The body brings together representatives from major public and private institutions, including Quaid-i-Azam University, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Aga Khan University, the University of Karachi and the University of the Punjab. Representatives from provincial higher education bodies in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also take part in shaping the framework.

According to HEC, the initiative aims to introduce a structured, transparent and evidence-based national ranking system for universities in Pakistan. Such a framework could help standardize how institutions are assessed and provide clearer information for prospective students weighing their options.

The formation of the task force signals a push to bring domestic university evaluation in line with global best practices while reflecting conditions specific to Pakistan's education sector. Further details on the framework and its rollout are expected as the task force completes its review.