Why HEC is Closing University Campuses in Tehsils Across Pakistan

1. The Directive: Immediate Ban & Non-Recognition

The HEC, under the leadership of Chairman Engr. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, has issued a formal notification to all Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and heads of public and private sector universities.

• Total Prohibition: Universities are now strictly prohibited from establishing, advertising, launching, or operating any new sub-campuses at the Tehsil level.

• Invalid Degrees: Any degree awarded through an unapproved Tehsil-level campus will not be recognized or attested by the HEC. This means such degrees will hold no value for government jobs or further education.

• Regulatory Voids: Decisions made by university syndicates or senates regarding these campuses without prior HEC clearance are now deemed invalid and lack "academic legitimacy."

2. Why the Crackdown? (The "Unsustainability" Factor)

The HEC’s detailed review revealed that Tehsil-level campuses have become "academically unsustainable" for several critical reasons:

• Faculty Shortage: These campuses struggle to attract and retain PhD-qualified faculty, often relying on visiting teachers with lower qualifications.

• Structural Weakness: Many lack essential infrastructure, including specialized laboratories, technical resources, and proper libraries.

• Academic Isolation: Being far from main campuses, students in Tehsils face academic isolation and lack the "campus life" and research environment necessary for quality higher education.

• Low Enrollment: Most of these campuses operate with a very low student intake, making them financially unviable without compromising educational quality.

3. Suspension of Pending Projects

Effective immediately, the HEC has placed all related projects in "abeyance":

• Applications: All pending proposals for Tehsil campuses are suspended.

• Field Activities: Universities have been told to stop all land acquisition, construction, procurement, and hiring for these proposed sites.

• Review Process: Any campus currently under consideration at the institutional or provincial level must now be referred back to the HEC for a rigorous quality review.

⚠️ Advisory for Students and Parents

Before seeking admission, always check the HEC website for the list of recognized campuses. If a campus is located at a Tehsil level (rather than a major District hub or the main city), it is highly likely to be unapproved. Do not pay fees to institutions that cannot provide an HEC-issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) for that specific location.

Accountability: The HEC has warned that the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Head of the Institution will be held personally responsible for any violations of this directive, with potential regulatory penalties including the suspension of entire academic programs.