The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed universities across Pakistan to complete all pending recruitments by August 15, 2026, warning that continued delays could result in administrative and regulatory action.
In a letter issued on February 27 to vice chancellors, rectors, and heads of institutions, HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar described the non-filling of key statutory and administrative posts as a persistent governance problem affecting higher education institutions nationwide.
According to the commission, prolonged vacancies and reliance on ad-hoc arrangements have disrupted academic planning, research supervision, student services, and overall institutional governance. The letter identified several vacant positions, including pro vice chancellor, dean, registrar, treasurer, controller of examinations, and multiple faculty posts such as professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and lecturer.
HEC cited a recent survey indicating that nearly 40 percent of faculty and administrative positions in universities remain unfilled. The issue was also discussed during the commission’s 13th urgent meeting held on February 9, 2025, where concerns were raised over the growing staffing gap in public sector institutions.
The advisory directs universities to advertise and fill all vacant posts under their respective university acts and to convene selection boards regularly while ensuring transparency and merit-based recruitment. Institutions have also been instructed to clear pending recruitment cases and initiate the creation of sanctioned posts where appointments are delayed due to the absence of approved seats.
The commission emphasized that failure to finalize recruitment processes within the stipulated deadline will attract serious consequences.
