LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar on higher education on Monday stressed the need to strengthen research-based policy making and align Pakistan’s universities with international standards to make diplomacy and governance more evidence-driven, arguing that academic institutions must play a central role in shaping national policy.

The discussion was held at a seminar titled “The Role of Higher Education in Diplomacy and Policy Making,” organised under the aegis of Higher Education Advocacy and Development (HEAD) – a Punjab government initiative to improve quality of education in the province.

The speakers said the universities in Pakistan should draw lessons from leading global institutions, such as University of Oxford and Harvard University, as well as models from China, Singapore and South Korea, where close linkages between academia, industry and government have helped shape effective public policies.

HEAD chairman Naeem Masood said local universities must move beyond traditional teaching roles and actively contribute to diplomacy and policy making through research and engagement with stakeholders.

Former minister of state Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal, who was the chief guest, said universities and the government should jointly identify and train future policy experts from within academia to develop implementable policies.

Dr Ziaul Qayyum emphasised the importance of data-driven research, saying policy formulation must be based on ground realities, historical context and systematic analysis before reaching decision-makers.

University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Munir said Pakistan is already producing diplomats and professionals, but required greater focus on research and higher education to meet emerging global challenges.

Islamia University of Bahawalpur VC Dr Muhammad Kamran stressed that university leadership must identify and empower quality researchers, while the government should facilitate an enabling environment for policy-oriented research.

University of Sargodha VC Dr Qaisar Abbas highlighted the absence of a dedicated education communication channel in Pakistan, proposing a structured platform to promote continuous learning and academic engagement.

Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) former chairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin called for sustained dialogue between policymakers and universities, saying open channels of communication were essential for meaningful research and policy impact.

During the panel discussion, Punjab Board of Revenue Secretary Shafqatullah Mushtaq said research must reflect ground realities and be based on factual clarity and objective analysis.

Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) VC Dr Uzma Qureshi underscored the importance of international academic exchanges and integrating ethical and national values into education while turning research into practical outcomes.

Dr Anjum Tahira said diplomacy was no longer confined to traditional statecraft, arguing that universities must be integrated into policy making as intellectual strength had become a key pillar of global competitiveness.

Punjab University Dean of Education Dr Shahid Farooq stressed the need to strengthen social sciences and promote a stronger research culture in universities.

Researchers, columnists and analysts, including Salman Abid and Rizwan Razi, also participated in the discussion.

The speakers pointed out gaps in higher education governance, with concerns raised over lack of structured media representation of academic issues and increasing emphasis on superficial outputs over meaningful research.

The seminar concluded with a consensus that without strengthening research culture and institutional linkages, Pakistan’s universities will have to struggle a lot to contribute effectively to diplomacy, governance and policy making.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026