System and Reforms of Higher Education in Pakistan

Since the creation of Pakistan, higher education system has been a matter of great concern among various circles in Pakistan, especially among the educationists, Government, policy makers and general public (Isani, 2001). Ranging from socio-economic system to religio-cultural lives of people (ranking in human development, 2001), the issue of higher education has several dimensions (Isani, 2001). In 1974, to address various challenges in higher education, the Government of Pakistan established University Grant Commission (UGC) (GOP, 1974). The main aim of UGC was to maintain standard of education and establish a uniform policy all over the country (Government of Pakistan, 1973, 1974). However, having no real financial powers, the UGC remained an ineffective institution (UGC, 2000). Resultantly, the standard of higher education in Pakistan declined considerably (GOP, 1976). Therefore, in 2002, the government established Higher Education Commission (HEC). HEC paved the way to revitalize invigorate, support, legalize, standardize, sponsor and made functional the endeavors undertaken by the various respective intuitions quiescent culture into mobile and active gestures (World Bank, 1994). As the title indicates, this paper is an attempt to analyze the reforms in higher education system in Pakistan. Key terms: Higher Education Commission, brain drain, E-Learning, Education Polices Quality Education.