Punjab is preparing for a major boost in higher education as several international universities have shown interest in opening their campuses in the province.
During a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, it was revealed that universities from the United Kingdom, Korea and Kazakhstan are in talks to bring their expertise and educational models to Punjab. Among the notable names are the University of London, Brunel University, University of Gloucestershire and the University of Leicester.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed this development, highlighting that international collaborations will raise the academic standards of Punjab and provide local students access to global learning opportunities without leaving the country.
The meeting also focused on strengthening local institutions. GC University, Government College for Women University and the University of Engineering and Technology will be developed as model institutions to set benchmarks for quality education.
In addition to these steps, the Punjab government has decided to launch reforms such as College Management Councils, a KPI-based evaluation system for Vice Chancellors and an Education Vigilance Squad to monitor attendance, cleanliness, and teaching standards.
The Chief Minister also discussed upcoming initiatives like the Talented Scholarship and Laptop Scheme which has already attracted more than 19,000 applications from across Pakistan.
With the launch of the Higher Education Strategic Plan 2025–2029 and approval for Punjab’s first Higher Education Conference, the province is taking solid steps toward innovation, research and digital transformation.
These decisions indicate that Punjab is ready to reshape its educational landscape and open doors to international-level learning for its students.
