Punjab Government Decides to Make GC, UET, and Government College for Women Model Educational Institutions

Lahore: In a significant move to reform higher education, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz chaired a special meeting during which key decisions were made regarding the future of educational institutions in the province. The meeting decided to transform Government College University (GC), University of Engineering and Technology (UET), and Government College for Women University into model educational institutions.
During the meeting, it was revealed that several international universities, including those from the UK, South Korea, and Kazakhstan, have shown interest in establishing campuses in Punjab. Among the universities expressing interest are the University of London, University of Brunel, University of Gloucestershire, and University of Leicester, all of which have offered to open branch campuses in the province.
The meeting also reached an agreement on establishing a College Management Council for public sector colleges in Punjab. Additionally, a key decision was made to implement the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system in the province’s universities to improve the quality of education. The performance of Vice Chancellors will be assessed based on these KPIs.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz further ordered the preparation of a detailed report on underperforming colleges, which is to be submitted to her for review.
In another important move, the CM approved the formation of an Education Vigilance Squad. This squad will conduct random checks on educational institutions to monitor attendance, cleanliness, educational standards, and other factors. The squad’s reports will be overseen by the Education Minister, and immediate action will be taken based on their findings.
The meeting also explored the proposal to introduce a color-coded ranking system for universities based on their educational standards—green, blue, yellow, and grey ranks.
A detailed briefing on the Chief Minister’s Scholarship and Laptop Scheme was also presented, highlighting that over 19,000 students from other provinces have applied for the scheme. The strategic plan for higher education from 2025 to 2029 was reviewed, with a focus on improving the quality of education, governance reforms, and institutional autonomy in public sector universities.
The meeting emphasized the importance of fostering teaching excellence, innovative research, and creative knowledge at Punjab’s universities. It was agreed that human resource development, digital transformation, and global linkages would be key priorities for the province’s higher education system.
In another first, the meeting approved the principle for holding a Higher Education Conference in Punjab. CM Maryam Nawaz also ordered a comprehensive report on inactive commerce colleges in the province.