PESHAWAR: The chairman of Higher Education Commission, Prof Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, has said that despite meagre budgetary allocation during the last one decade, students’ enrolment has increased from Rs1.4 million to 3.5 million in the country.

“HEC budget has remained stagnant at Rs65 billion during the last 10 years. The matter of concern is declining academic competitiveness, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa universities which don’t make it to international rankings,” he told a ceremony held at Khyber Medical University here on Monday, according to a press release.

However, he said that despite financial crunch and administrative challenges, KP-based universities had a commendable 53 per cent PhD faculty ratio, higher than the national average along with an encouraging upswing in intake of students.

Prof Niaz was addressing as chief guest the joint conference of vice-chancellors and rectors of public and private sector universities and research excellence awards ceremony.

The executive director of HEC, Prof Ziaul Haq, emphasised the importance of institutional synergy, modern policymaking and effective leadership to elevate universities in the province to international standards.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Meena Khan Afridi reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving governance and quality in universities. He said that funding would be linked to performance indicators performance of vice-chancellors would be formally evaluated every two years.

He said that a provincial higher education task force, with Prof Ziaul Haq as its chief, was expected to get cabinet’s approval. The task force proposes linking 12 key performance indicators (KPIs) to performance grants and enhancing governance structures, including improved criteria for the appointment of deans.

He said that provincial government increased education endowment fund from Rs2.1 billion to Rs5.2 billion. He said that free education would be provided to girl students at intermediate level and orphaned children while paid internships for all graduates would be introduced from next year.

The secretary high education department, Dr Mohammad Israr Khan, presented a detailed overview of ongoing reforms, governance models and future priorities aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in higher education system.

HEC member Prof Sohail H Naqvi stressed the need for improving research output, strengthening institutional stability and ensuring sustainable development.

The vice-chancellor of University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Prof Sadiq Khattak, who is also provincial chairman of VCs Forum, highlighted the significance of collaboration, accountability and innovation. On the occasion, 116 researchers and scientists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were given awards.

Later, Meena Khan Afridi and Prof Niaz inaugurated an endoscopy suite at KMU Hospital and Research Centre and Islamic centre and mosque.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026