FAISALABAD: A five-year PHEC strategic programme has been evolved for qualitative as well as quantitative improvement in related higher education while its operational plan is expected to be launched within next two months, said Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Chairperson Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC). Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he appreciated the role of Faisalabad in consolidating the national economy. He said “we could further expedite national growth by producing highly educated and skilled human resources with a focus on applied research through industry academia linkages ORIC and BIC.” He said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has directed to improve the quality of higher education in this province on the fast-track basis. He said that another committee headed by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb is currently overseeing this programme while a comprehensive survey has also been initiated. He said former chairman HEC Tariq Banuri is heading a committee to prepare its operational details which is expected to be launched within the next two months. He critically analysed the quality of education and said that social, practical, moral and other values are imperative to give overall positive impacts and said “we need quality teachers but nobody was ready to invest in this sector.” He said that a systematic effort was launched and proposals were invited to improve the quality of education. He said “the semester system in education has played havoc by adding professional, social and moral ills in addition to the incidents of harassments,” adding that he expelled seven teachers on this allegation but they were restored by the competent authority. Responding to a question, he said that commercialization of pilot projects developed by different universities and research institutions is very low. “Hence we should stress on the applied research to put the country on a growth trajectory,” he said, adding that Sialkot Chamber was considering to adopt Symbrial University on public private mode. He said FCCI should also adopt this model to improve the quality of higher education in this region. He mentioned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and said that recruitment in this institution was made purely on practical skills instead of degrees. “It was due to this reason that PAF defeated the Indian jet fighters in a recent air skirmish” he said, adding PAF has an air strip in FIEDMC where PAF could establish a training institute. He said “more than 600 degrees are being offered but our ultimate objective is to produce a skill force who could alleviate our institutions to the global level.” He also requested the private sector to construct female hostels as the number of female students is increasing at a much faster pace. He said that 80 percent girls are selected for medical institutions purely on merit basis and it forced policy makers to define reasonable equity in the admission of male and female students. Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the government intends to create at least one university in each district and the private sector should also contribute its role in establishing quality universities like LUMS. He further said that a charter for Aziz Fatima University Faisalabad would also be issued very soon. Earlier, Farooq Yousaf Sheikh, President FCCI welcomed the guest and said that textile was an iconic representation of Faisalabad but now it has diversified its industrial portfolio with the addition of dairy, pharma and automobile sectors etc. “This change has entirely changed the face of this city,” he said and paid best tribute to Dr Iqrar Ahmad who played a key role in making Pakistan self-reliant in food and agriculture. About FCCI, he said “our fundamental job is to bridge the gap between the government and business community.” He said that “currently we are busy preparing budget proposals with practical solutions to the problems and the prevailing challenges.” He demanded that President FCCI may be included in the all syndicates of the public and private universities of the Punjab to synchronize academic syllabus with industrial needs. Vice President Engr Asim Munir, Muhammad Ali, Waheed Khaliq Ramay, former President Mumzamil Sultan, Rana Sikandar Azam, Main Muhammad Tayyab, Dr Habib Aslam Gaba and other participants took part in the question answer session while Senior Vice President Naveed Akram Sheikh offered a vote of thanks. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026