The Higher Education Commission has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the establishment and operation of university sub-campuses at the Tehsil level, citing serious concerns about academic quality, governance and institutional sustainability. The directive issued by Niaz Ahmad Akhtar aims to prevent the spread of what the regulator describes as structurally weak and academically compromised campuses.
The HEC’s review found that most Tehsil-level sub-campuses lack essential academic infrastructure, sufficient numbers of qualified PhD faculty and sustainable student enrollment. Regulators highlighted limited resources, weak governance arrangements and inadequate laboratory and technical facilities as key reasons behind the decision.
Under the directive, all universities and degree-awarding institutions are prohibited from establishing, advertising or operating any Tehsil-level sub-campus with immediate effect. The HEC ban also means no No Objection Certificates, accreditation support or degree attestation will be granted to such campuses, effectively removing their academic legitimacy.
All pending proposals for Tehsil-level campuses have been suspended and institutions have been ordered to stop related activities including admissions, hiring, land acquisition and construction. Any campus under consideration at institutional, provincial or federal levels must be placed on hold and referred to the HEC for review.
The Commission warned that degrees issued by unapproved Tehsil-level sub-campuses will not be recognised or attested, a move that may affect large numbers of students. Institutional leadership, including vice chancellors, rectors and governing bodies, have been made responsible for any violations of the directive.
The move signals a tightening of regulatory oversight as authorities seek to curb unchecked expansion and ensure academic standards are maintained across Pakistan’s higher education sector. The HEC ban is intended to protect students and preserve the credibility of degrees awarded by Pakistani universities.
