Punjab moves to revamp higher education system

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to run higher education institutions across the province under a public-private partnership model, according to details reported on Monday.

Under the plan, all higher education institutions currently operating under the provincial government will be managed in line with the Public-Private Partnership Act 2025, with the stated aim of improving educational standards. The government will retain full administrative and financial control under the PPP arrangement.

A 13-member committee has been set up to oversee the commercial, legal and financial requirements of the new system. The body will be headed by the Punjab finance minister and will supervise implementation of the framework.

The committee includes the minister for law and parliamentary affairs, minister for higher education, chairman of the Planning and Development Board, senior member of the Board of Revenue, secretary of the higher education department, secretary of the finance department, secretary of the school education department, secretary of the law and parliamentary affairs department, chief investment officer of the Punjab Public-Private Partnership Authority, managing director of PPRA, chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission and its chief operating officer.