Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal Launches HEC’s “Maktab” Initiative, Highlights Digital Transformation in Higher Education

Islamabad, January 5, 2026:
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, delivered an online address on the launch of the Maktab initiative under the Higher Education Commission (HEC), calling it a clear message of national resolve and digital transformation in Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Professor Iqbal said Pakistan’s universities are moving from traditional paper-based processes to modern, performance-driven systems. “Decisions in higher education institutions will now be based on data and evidence rather than assumptions,” he noted, emphasizing that strong institutions and trained human resources are the true source of a nation’s strength in the 21st century.
He added that globally competitive universities are built not merely through infrastructure but through transparent governance and effective management. “Nations do not progress by accident; development comes through planning, discipline, and continuity,” he said, highlighting that knowledge, technology, and innovation form the backbone of Pakistan’s economic strength.
Under the Udaan Pakistan initiative, he said, all five pillars of the program are fostering innovation and competitiveness, linking universities, research, and the economy. “Through Vision 2010, human resource development became a national priority, while the 10,000 PhD program is preparing global-standard talent,” he said.
He further highlighted Vision 2025, under which modern research and innovation centers have been established. Top 10 premium universities will be prepared for global competitiveness, with a dedicated committee providing recommendations within a month for selection and reforms.
Professor Iqbal also announced that the Seven-Point University Quality Framework is enhancing academic standards, while government funding for higher education will now be linked to performance and results. Competition and merit-based systems will be enforced in universities.
Additional initiatives include new manufacturing centers and 12 catapult-style innovation hubs, with the Quantum Valley Pakistan project set to become the national center for research, technology, and innovation. He stressed that universities must evolve from mere degree-awarding institutions into high-performance knowledge organizations, with digital governance forming the foundation of sustainable higher education reforms.