PRESTIGE carries with it the element of responsibility. When leading private universities admit the country’s most talented students, they assume a duty that goes beyond academics. Such institutions are expected to set standards in conduct, discipline and leadership development. When they fall short, the consequences extend well beyond campus.

Pakistan’s ‘elite’ private universities have expanded rapidly, investing heavily in infrastructure, branding and inter-national linkages. Yet, institutional strength is not measured by rankings or facilities alone. It is reflected in how authority is exercised, rules are enforced, and student welfare is protected. In some cases, growth appears to have outpaced governance.

Globally, respected universities operate on the clear principle that freedom is inseparable from responsibility. Codes of conduct, visible accountability and structured supervision are not constraints, but safeguards. Where these mechanisms weaken, campuses risk undermining the very purpose of higher education.

The path to reform is neither complex nor unprecedented. Proven models already exist, like empowered student affairs departments, early-intervention systems, enforcement of rules, and leadership willing to communicate boundaries clearly.

Universities that take these steps often restore balance quickly. Elite status should demand higher standards, not exemptions. If Pakistan’s top private universities are to remain nurseries of national leadership, they must align academic ambition with ethical rigour. The real test is not excel-lence itself, but the resolve to protect it.

Zahid Maqsood Sheikh
Lahore

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026