Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Directs Formulation of 10-Year Higher Education Strategy–Official Notification

KPK Government Moves Towards a Transformative Higher Education Policy:

In a landmark decision to revamp the higher education sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Minister Secretariat has issued an official notification directing the finalization of a 10-Year Higher Education Strategy (2025-2035). With the Chief Minister now formally serving as Chancellor of all Public Sector Universities, the government is prioritizing financial sustainability, research excellence, student employability, faculty development, digital transformation, and governance reforms to uplift the academic landscape.

This notification highlights the need for a structured, data-driven approach to ensure universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa align with global standards. The plan will integrate reports from various committees and create a unified Higher Education Transformation Plan for the next decade. The draft strategy must be submitted within 21 days, with a final review before Cabinet approval.

Below is the official notification from the Chief Minister Secretariat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Please find notification:

CHIEF MINISTER SECRETARIAT
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PESHAWAR

No: DS (PSUs/Cabinet Affairs)/CMS/1-2/General/2025
Dated Peshawar, the 25^th March, 2025

Date

To

The Secretary to Govt: of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Higher Education Archives & Libraries Department,

SUBJECT:             DIRECTION FOR FINALIZATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE 10-YEAR HIGHER EDUCATION STRATEGY

Dear Sir,

                        I am directed to refer to above noted subject and to state that the Chief Minister has recently assumed the statutory position of Chancellor of all Public Sector Universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This enhanced oversight function necessitates the articulation of a clear, actionable, and long-term roadmap for the province’s higher education sector.

2.                     In this context, it is encouraging to note that multiple committees notified over the past year have undertaken significant groundwork on various dimensions of the higher education system. These include assessments on faculty development, financial management, student outcomes, research performance, and governance structures. This will also lead to a proposed Decade Strategy (2025-2035).

3.                     There is now an urgent need to synthesize this fragmented work into a single, coherent policy and implementation document that reflects the priorities and ambition of the Government. This strategy must serve not just as a vision document, but as a performance contract between the Government and the university leadership.

4.                     The following is therefore requested on emergent basis:

1.         Consolidation of all committee reports, university statistics, and strategic drafts into a comprehensive 10-Year Higher Education Strategy Document, clearly structured around the following pillars:

(i)         Financial Sustainability, including targets for self-generated revenue, reduction in non-admissible allowances, and commercialization of university assets such as diagnostic labs and distance learning programs;

(ii)        Research Excellence, with indicators such as high-impact publications, industry-funded research, patent filings, and establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors;

(iii)       Student Employability and Skills, including graduate employment targets, industry certifications, internship completion, and support for university-based startups and freelancing initiatives;

(iv)       Faculty Development, including targets for PhD-qualified faculty, regular training programs, and international academic collaborations;

(v)        Digital Transformation, including integration of Al-driven management systems, blockchain-based degree verification, and expansion of hybrid and online learning platforms;

(vi)       Governance and Accountability, with monthly review frameworks, Vice Chancellor KPIs, and compliance with a standardized University Governance Scorecard.

2.         Communication of a draft version of this consolidated strategy to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat within 21 days, along with a proposed mechanism for institutional buy-in from universities and regulatory alignment with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

3.         Ensuring that the document contains quantified benchmarks, timelines, and a robust monitoring and evaluation system, as well as recommendations for legislative, administrative, and financial reforms required for effective implementation.

This will serve as the province’s formal Higher Education Transformation Plan for 2025-2035, and will be submitted for Cabinet endorsement following internal review. You are requested to kindly ensure that this task is treated with the highest priority and urgency.

Yours faithfully

Deputy Secretary (PSUs & Cabinet Affairs)
Chief Minister Secretariat

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Higher Education Sector on the Path to Reform:

The 10-Year Higher Education Strategy (2025-2035) is set to reshape the future of universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ensuring they meet international benchmarks in financial independence, research innovation, digitalization, and student employability. With clear directives from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, this policy aims to strengthen governance, academic quality, and global competitiveness.

As the strategy nears completion, it is expected to bring long-term benefits to students, faculty, and research institutions, making KPK a hub of higher education excellence.

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