As of April 7, 2026, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is formulating a new policy for PhD scholars studying abroad on government funding. The proposed guidelines aim to provide relief to struggling students while strictly penalising those who misuse state resources.
Under the new framework, the HEC will not fine scholars sent on merit if they fail or miss their degree deadlines. Authorities will not harass or pursue legal action against these students. However, this exemption comes with one strict condition that the scholars must return to Pakistan.
Consequently, the HEC is actively reviewing the current scholar agreements. Officials will amend the signed affidavits, reassess the bond conditions, and review the mandatory five-year restriction.
Conversely, the HEC will take strict action against students who fail their degrees but choose to settle abroad for employment or residency. These individuals will face severe financial penalties. Furthermore, the new policy will introduce specific clauses to actively discourage scholars from seeking political asylum.
Currently, the HEC faces a massive backlog. The commission must recover tens of millions of rupees in fines from over 100 absconding and failed scholars.
Despite these policy updates, Pakistani scholars perform exceptionally well internationally. According to the HEC, the global failure rate for PhD scholars stands at a massive 50%. In contrast, Pakistan’s failure rate is significantly lower, sitting at merely 5%.
