LAHORE (Dunya News) – In a bid to improve the standard of education in Pakistan, the Punjab government on Thursday mulled to implement new system across the province.
A special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was held, during which a detailed briefing was given on the Higher Education Department. Several foreign universities from countries including the UK, South Korea, and Kazakhstan expressed interest in establishing campuses in Punjab.
It was agreed to set up College Management Councils in public colleges across the province. A decision was also made to implement a KPI (Key Performance Indicators) system in Punjab’s universities to raise educational standards. The performance of university vice-chancellors will be evaluated based on these KPIs.
During the meeting, CM Maryam approved the formation of an Education Vigilance Squad, which will carry out surprise inspections in educational institutions to check on attendance, cleanliness, quality of education, and other matters. The squad will report to the Education Minister, and prompt action will be taken based on its findings.
A proposal to introduce a ranking system for Punjab’s universities—categorized as Green, Blue, Yellow, and Grey—based on academic performance was reviewed. The CM also requested a report on underperforming colleges.
The meeting included a detailed briefing on the CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship and the Laptop Scheme, where it was revealed that over 19,000 students from other provinces have applied for the Punjab Chief Minister’s Laptop Scheme.
The Higher Education Strategic Plan/Roadmap 2025–2029 was also reviewed, with suggestions to introduce governance reforms and institutional autonomy in public sector universities. The focus will be on teaching quality and the promotion of creative knowledge.
There was consensus on prioritizing human resource development in Punjab’s universities, along with digital transformation and global partnerships. Approval in principle was granted for holding the first-ever Higher Education Conference in Punjab.
The CM also requested a comprehensive report on non-functional commerce colleges in the province.