The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has imposed a nationwide ban on public sector universities and degree-awarding institutions from establishing or operating sub-campuses at the tehsil level.
In an official notification issued to vice chancellors, rectors, and heads of institutions, the commission stated that the decision takes immediate effect and applies to all universities and DAIs across Pakistan.
According to the HEC, a detailed review found that tehsil-level sub-campuses are often structurally weak and academically unsustainable. The commission noted that such campuses typically face difficulties in hiring and retaining qualified PhD faculty, while also suffering from low student enrollment and inadequate academic and residential facilities.
The regulator further warned that these campuses are vulnerable to weak governance, academic isolation, and reputational risks for the country’s higher education sector.
Under the new directive, universities are barred from establishing, advertising, launching, operating, or even seeking approval for any new tehsil-level sub-campus. The HEC also clarified that it will not issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs), recognition, accreditation support, or degree attestation eligibility for such campuses.
All previously approved or pending proposals have also been suspended. Universities have been instructed to halt admissions, hiring, procurement, land acquisition, and construction work related to these campuses immediately.
The HEC stated that degrees awarded through unapproved tehsil-level sub-campuses will not be eligible for recognition, attestation, or regulatory protection.
It further emphasized that any approval, syndicate decision, or administrative order issued without prior HEC clearance will be considered invalid.
The commission has made it clear that responsibility for violations will rest with vice chancellors, rectors, registrars, and relevant governing bodies. It also warned that non-compliance may result in regulatory action, including withholding of approvals and non-recognition of academic programs.
The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen quality assurance and governance standards in Pakistan’s higher education system.
