The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, through its National Academy for Higher Education (NAHE), has formally directed all public-sector universities to build institutional capacity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of a nationally coordinated readiness drive. HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chaired a high-level consultative meeting in Islamabad on September 12, 2026, attended by Vice Chancellors, senior faculty, HEC Regional Centre representatives, and technology industry partner Huawei Technologies.
The meeting addressed a critical gap: while AI is rapidly reshaping education, research, healthcare, governance, and industry worldwide, Pakistani universities have largely lacked the institutional infrastructure, trained faculty, and governance frameworks to respond to this shift systematically. The meeting marked a pivot from individual, ad-hoc AI adoption toward a structured, institution-wide national strategy.
⚡ Key Directives & Mandates: HEC AI Readiness Framework
| Policy Area | Official Mandate / Directive | Target Cohort |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory AI Course | 3 credit-hours of AI-related coursework required across all programs | All Undergraduate & Graduate students from Fall 2026 |
| Faculty AI Training (Cohort 1 & 2) | 64 in-person participants + 366 virtual participants trained by NAHE | University Faculty & Academic Management |
| Expanded AI Training Programme | Additional cohorts via HEC Regional Centres & 15 cluster points across Pakistan | Faculty, IT Professionals & Researchers Nationwide |
| HPC Infrastructure | Strengthening national High-Performance Computing and data infrastructure capacity | Public Sector Universities |
| Cybersecurity & AI Governance | Institutions required to implement ethical AI frameworks and cybersecurity safeguards | All HEC-affiliated Universities |
| National AI Roadmap | Follow-up meeting to finalise nationally coordinated AI readiness strategy within days | All Stakeholders: Universities, Government, Industry |
Why HEC Is Treating AI as a National Emergency for Higher Education
HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar was direct in his assessment: universities can no longer treat AI as a peripheral set of tools adopted by individual departments at will. His statement at the meeting crystallised HEC's new position:
"Universities must move beyond viewing AI merely as a collection of tools, and develop institutional capacity to understand, manage, and responsibly integrate AI."
The Chairman identified seven pillars of AI readiness that every university must address as an institution-wide commitment — not just within computer science departments:
- Digital Infrastructure: Broadband connectivity, cloud access, and on-campus server facilities capable of supporting AI workloads.
- High-Performance Computing (HPC) Capacity: National-level investment in shared HPC clusters for computationally intensive research and training.
- Trained Human Resources: Faculty who can teach AI responsibly, researchers who can work with AI tools, and administrators who can govern AI systems.
- Cybersecurity Safeguards: Protecting student data, research IP, and institutional systems from AI-enabled threats.
- Institutional Governance: Policies governing how AI is used in admissions, grading, assessments, and research integrity.
- Academic Expertise: Building specialised AI degree programmes, minors, and research centres within universities.
- Ethical Frameworks: Responsible AI guidelines aligned with UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
The 3-Credit Mandatory AI Course: What Students Need to Know
The most immediately actionable outcome of HEC's directive is the requirement for a three-credit-hour AI-related course to be integrated into the curriculum of all undergraduate and graduate programmes across Pakistan, effective Fall 2026 semester. This mandate applies regardless of discipline — meaning engineering, medical, business, social sciences, and arts students alike will be required to complete the AI component as part of their degree requirements.
While specific course content will be defined by each university in alignment with HEC guidelines, the course is expected to cover AI literacy, machine learning fundamentals, ethical AI usage, and domain-specific applications relevant to each student's field of study.
NAHE's AI Training Cohorts & National Expansion
NAHE Managing Director Dr. Noor Amna Malik confirmed that NAHE has already completed two AI training cohorts for university staff:
- Physical Participants: 64 faculty members and administrators trained in-person at designated training facilities.
- Virtual Participants: 366 university professionals trained remotely through NAHE's online learning platforms.
NAHE has now announced the expansion of these programmes through HEC Regional Centres and 15 identified cluster points across Pakistan, designed to ensure that faculty from universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and AJK can access AI training without travelling to Islamabad.
Industry Collaboration: Huawei Technologies' Role
Huawei Technologies participated in the consultative meeting as an industry partner. Mr. Meng Gengchang (Solution Expert, Huawei Technologies) presented practical industry perspectives on AI infrastructure, HPC deployment, and university-enterprise collaboration models. This follows Huawei's ongoing engagement with Pakistani universities through its ICT Academy programme.
Universities Already Implementing AI: Early Adopter Highlights
The meeting featured practical case studies shared by university leaders currently pioneering AI adoption:
- Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM): AI-enabled admissions system processing applications and merit calculations.
- Balochistan University of IT, Engineering & Management Sciences (BUITEMS): Dedicated AI academic programmes including degree-level coursework.
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS): Multiple AI research initiatives including defence-related applied AI.
What Comes Next: National AI Roadmap Finalisation
The meeting concluded with a commitment to convene a follow-up meeting within the coming days to finalise a nationally coordinated strategy. The roadmap will cover AI training at scale, HPC infrastructure investment, responsible AI governance policies, and institutional AI readiness benchmarking. University management, faculty, IT professionals, researchers, and relevant government stakeholders will all be brought into the strategy finalisation process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the 3-credit AI course compulsory for all students at all universities?
Yes. HEC's directive requires the 3-credit AI course to be integrated into undergraduate and graduate curricula at all HEC-affiliated universities, effective Fall 2026 semester.
Q2: Who chairs the HEC AI consultative body?
HEC Chairman Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar chairs the national consultative process, with NAHE Managing Director Dr. Noor Amna Malik overseeing training programme delivery.
Q3: Are private universities included in this directive?
The meeting focused primarily on public-sector universities. However, given HEC's regulatory authority over all chartered universities, private institutions are expected to receive corresponding guidance as the national AI roadmap is finalised.
Q4: How can faculty apply for NAHE AI training?
Faculty and administrators can contact their respective HEC Regional Centre or monitor HEC's official portal at hec.gov.pk for upcoming cohort announcements at the 15 cluster points across Pakistan.