By Shabbir Ahmad Khan
In Punjab as it is facing an unprecedented challenge. A new set of legislative proposals, reportedly circulating within the provincial government, threatens to undermine the independence of higher education institutions and subject them to direct political control.
Public universities have long served as the only viable avenue for affordable education for the majority of Pakistan’s youth.
Their credibility rests on academic freedom, transparent governance, and institutional autonomy. Any attempt to curtail these principles risks not only the quality of education but also the very future of our national development.
According to reports, the proposed reforms include the dissolution of the Senate, the highest policy-making body of universities, and the removal of the Governor of Punjab from the position of Chancellor. More concerning still, the Syndicate—the key administrative authority—would lose its representation from the judiciary, while political representation has already been expanded, with at least three members of the Provincial Assembly inducted as part of the body instead of one. The provincial education minister, not the vice chancellor, would chair the Syndicate.
Taken together, these changes represent a decisive shift: from academic self-governance to political oversight. Such a transformation risks opening the door to arbitrary decision-making, nepotism, and the politicisation of appointments, promotions, and admissions. The consequences would be far-reaching, affecting faculty morale, student opportunities, and ultimately the nation’s human capital.
At the same time, the government’s diminishing capacity to fund higher education raises further concerns. Universities already struggle to meet operational expenses. Rather than investing in their development, there are fears that attention may shift towards monetising their assets—particularly valuable urban land. Past experiences, such as the conversion of riverbeds into housing schemes, suggest that such apprehensions are not unfounded.
Punjab University, the country’s oldest institution of higher learning with a history spanning nearly 150 years, stands as a symbol of Pakistan’s academic identity. To turn it into an arena of political influence would be a disservice not only to the institution itself but to the nation at large.
The most troubling aspect of the proposed legislation concerning universities is the removal of elected representation of teachers, who constitute the principal stakeholders in higher education.
Since 1904, the Senate of the University of the Punjab has functioned as a representative body, incorporating professors, members of the Provincial Assembly, alumni, as well as distinguished figures from civil society, including representatives of affiliated colleges. The proposed abolition of the Senate would inevitably dismantle this broad-based representation, thereby silencing multiple segments of society that have historically contributed to the governance of the institution.
Furthermore, the plan to eliminate elected teacher representatives from the University’s executive body, the Syndicate, and to replace them with nominees handpicked by the provincial government, reflects a deliberate effort to centralize authority. Such measures stand in stark contradiction to the academic values and democratic traditions upon which these institutions were originally established under British rule.
The history of this region is replete with lessons about the dangers of disregarding national institutions in the pursuit of narrow political gains. Policymakers must recognise that destabilising universities for short-term control could ignite long-term instability—social, political, and economic.
Our politicians have shown little concern for national survival; otherwise, the country would never have been torn apart in 1971, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. Regardless of the politicians’ indifference, Pakistan’s security institutions remain vigilant and will never allow a spark in Punjab to ignite into a blaze engulfing the entire nation. Pakistan cannot afford to relive the tragedy of the Bangladesh model, nor the chaos recently witnessed in Nepal through the actions of its student body.
All over the world, higher education institutions are recognized for their autonomy and freedom to operate. Even a powerful president like Donald Trump had to face defeat when he tried to interfere in the affairs of Harvard University.
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Trump had threatened the Harvard administration that if it did not comply with the government’s directives, the university would lose billions of dollars in federal funding.
Harvard chose to bear the loss of billions rather than allow Trump to impose his will on its internal affairs. The U.S. government wanted to take away the university’s authority—particularly regarding student admissions, especially of international students, and faculty hiring—and place it under its own control.
While voices are being raised in government corridors to turn public universities into breeding grounds for political allies through interference, even at the cost of destroying the academic and research environment, on the other side, teachers’ associations are becoming increasingly active.
At the individual level of universities, and then collectively through elected teachers’ bodies of all universities, efforts have begun to outright reject this government policy and to form a united front against it. Across the province, and indeed the entire country, different modes of peaceful protest are being considered. From boycotting classes to laying siege to the highest government offices—all options are on the table. Surely, such steps will be taken only when all hopes of resolving matters through negotiations with the Punjab government are extinguished.
The autonomy of public universities is not a privilege; it is a necessity for the survival of merit, research, and academic excellence. If governments cannot provide meaningful support, the least they can do is refrain from weakening the very foundations of higher education. In the end, undermining universities will undermine the state itself.
(The Writer is a Professor of Political Science)
