The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is Pakistan’s apex body for leading and managing tertiary education, ensuring global standards and promoting world-class research and innovation.
Over the past two years, the HEC has organised several visits for separate delegations of senior Bangladeshi academics, including Chairmen of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and Vice-Chancellors of various universities.
The objective of the initiative is to strengthen links among higher education leaders of both countries and create opportunities for improving university education, fostering research collaboration, sharing innovation and facilitating technology transfer.
This is a part of the “Pakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor” initiative of the Government of Pakistan. Under the programme, at least 500 Bangladeshi students will receive the Allama Iqbal Scholarship to study medicine, engineering, emerging technologies and other disciplines in leading Pakistani universities free of cost.
During our visit, we met many of the 74 students who joined Pakistani universities last year, while the second intake is already underway.
Eye-opening experience
For the visiting Bangladeshi delegation, the tour provided an invaluable opportunity to understand the quality of higher education, research and innovation in Pakistan.
Senior Pakistani academics consistently expressed strong interest in collaborating with Bangladeshi universities, particularly in areas such as engineering, medicine, artificial intelligence and cyber security. They were keen to support capacity building and the transfer of technologies that could significantly benefit Bangladesh.
The delegation received a warm welcome at the National Assembly of Pakistan from the Hon Speaker, Sarder Ayaz Sadiq MP, and held meetings with the Federal Minister and State Minister for Education, the Chairman of HEC Professor Niaz A. Akhtar, senior HEC officials and representatives of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. These discussions were cordial, informative and highly productive.
Innovation and research excellence
Beyond observing physical infrastructure, the delegation engaged in detailed discussions on curriculum design, teaching facilities, student support systems, research laboratories, technological innovation, PhD programmes, journal publications, citation performance, global rankings and international collaborations.
We were particularly impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and free healthcare services provided by medical universities. One remarkable innovation was the simultaneously conducted online examination system for thousands of medical students across multiple locations with results published within minutes of the examination’s completion.
NED University of Engineering and Technology showcased advanced cyber security laboratories, medical technology innovations and energy measurement systems. The globally recognised ICCBS, an OIC Centre of Excellence, remains a hub of scientific achievement associated with renowned scholars such as Atta-ur-Rahman, the founder of the HEC in 2006.
Equally impressive was the practical, hands-on training model at National University of Technology, which serves as a textbook example of work-integrated learning designed to produce industry-ready graduates.
A remarkable cancer hospital
Our visit to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre was especially moving. The institution stands as a testament to the extraordinary vision of legendary cricketer-turned-politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan.
Millions of cancer patients receive treatment there, many of them free of charge, through voluntary donations. Members of the Bangladeshi delegation made a symbolic donation as a gesture of solidarity.
Healthy competition among universities
Although we could not visit several other leading universities, particularly in Lahore, it became clear that Pakistan’s higher education sector benefits from both provincial and federal ranking systems in addition to global rankings. This has created genuine competition among universities to improve educational quality and research performance.
The delegation was deeply touched by the hospitality extended by every Pakistani institution and individual we encountered. The exceptional support provided by HEC Director Mr Jehanzeb Khan and his team deserves special recognition.
Presentation of research books
On behalf of the Bangladeshi delegation, I presented two of my Springer Nature published books to distinguished Pakistani researchers: (1) “Meta-Analysis Methods of Health and Experimental Studies” to Professor Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of the OIC Centre of Excellence at ICCBS, Karachi.
The book has recorded more than 45,000 accesses, and its second edition will be published soon. (2) “Statistical Methods and Models for Health and Clinical Studies” to Professor Ali Shah, Adviser to the Higher Education Commission. The book has also been translated into Greek.
The untapped educational collaboration between Bangladesh and Pakistan has the potential to become a powerful catalyst for academic excellence, research innovation and technological advancement.
The knowledge, experience and goodwill shared during this visit demonstrate that universities in both countries can benefit enormously from deeper engagement, joint research initiatives, faculty exchange and student mobility.
Strengthening these ties will not only enrich higher education systems but also contribute to broader regional cooperation and development.
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