The University of Peshawar Retired Employees Council has called for practical steps to establish a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Commission (KP HEC), arguing that the province needs a dedicated body to address challenges facing its higher education sector.
The council made the demand during a meeting where participants discussed issues related to the administration, funding and development of universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They stressed that a provincial higher education commission could help improve coordination among universities and provide a more focused framework for addressing their needs.
The demand comes as universities in KP continue to face financial and administrative challenges. A dedicated provincial body, supporters believe, could play a role in formulating higher education policies, improving governance and supporting academic institutions across the province.
The idea of establishing a provincial HEC is not new. In 2025, the KP government had already formed a committee to propose a model for its own higher education commission or an autonomous body based on the HEC structure.
The proposed commission would potentially work on matters including university development, academic standards, research, funding and coordination between higher education institutions and the provincial government.
The University of Peshawar council urged the authorities to move beyond discussions and take concrete measures toward establishing the body. The call reflects growing demands for greater provincial-level attention to the needs of higher education institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
