Internships have been made a mandatory part of university education across Pakistan to help students gain practical experience and improve their employment prospects, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Rabia Naseem Farooqi told the National Assembly.
Responding to questions during Question Hour, she said Pakistan has 282 public and private universities. The internship requirement was introduced in 2023 under the Higher Education Commission’s undergraduate education policy.
Under the policy, three academic credit hours are allocated for internships linked to students’ degree programmes. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is responsible for overseeing implementation of the requirement at universities.
Farooqi also highlighted the establishment of Youth Development Centres at universities on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. These centres aim to help students and graduates prepare for employment by providing academic and career guidance.
The centres also help students understand job opportunities and employers’ expectations, while facilitating interaction between universities and industry representatives.
The initiative aims to strengthen connections between higher education and the job market, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills before completing their degrees. Students should contact their university departments to confirm internship duration, placement arrangements and assessment requirements.
