This blog post is aimed at underlining some of the pressing challenges confronted by the public sector in Pakistan so that the newly appointed academic heads pay special attention to address it. These mainly embrace: i). prevailing administrative vacuum, ii). Looming financial crunch, iii). Digitalization and iv). Politically motivated meddling in the universities’ affairs.

This article takes stock of the financial health of the institutions of higher education in Pakistan, how it is getting worse and how the overall governance and financial sustainability of the public sector universities is becoming cumbersome.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, came to power with a promise of significant reforms across various sectors, including education. As we mark the two-year performance of the PTI government, it is crucial to evaluate its impact on the higher education landscape in Pakistan. Despite the ambitious goals set forth, universities across the country continue to face severe challenges, including inadequate funding, infrastructural deficits, and academic inefficiencies. This blog post delves into the current state of universities in Pakistan, examining the extent to which the PTI government's policies have influenced their performance and addressing the ongoing struggles that continue to hinder educational progress.

The blog post is aimed at bringing to the limelight three important challenges, the newly appointed academic heads should pay particular attention to. These include financial crises, digitalization and political intervention in the universities affairs.