Lahore The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has proposed a significant overhaul of the province’s commerce education system by planning to transfer around 76 public sector commerce colleges to 17 public sector universities, according to official sources.
The proposed move is part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at streamlining public sector colleges and improving academic efficiency. Earlier, Provincial Minister for Higher and School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat publicly announced the plan, stating that the government intends to outsource public sector commerce colleges along with approximately 50 general colleges with low student enrolment.
In a video message shared on social media, the minister said the restructuring is designed to better utilise resources and align academic programmes with market needs.
Universities Asked to Prepare Feasibility Reports
Official documents reveal that the Punjab government has formally written to the vice chancellors of 17 public universities, directing them to take over commerce colleges located within their respective jurisdictions.
In a letter issued on December 18, universities were instructed to submit detailed feasibility reports for an initial one-year period. These reports are expected to outline:
- Academic planning and governance structure
- Proposed degree and diploma programmes
- Market-driven and employment-oriented courses
- Resource utilisation and faculty deployment
- Implementation timelines and operational frameworks
The universities asked to prepare feasibility studies include:
- University of the Punjab
- Government College University Lahore
- Government College University Faisalabad
- University of Sargodha
- Islamia University Bahawalpur
- Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan
- Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi
- University of Gujrat
- University of Sahiwal
- University of Kamalia
- University of Rasul, Mandi Bahauddin
- Government College Women University Sialkot
- Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan
- Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan
- Thal University Bhakkar
- Information Technology University
- University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila
Background of Earlier Mergers
The proposal follows earlier restructuring steps taken in 2024, when the HED merged all standalone commerce colleges into general education colleges across Punjab. This move also included the merger of eight women’s commerce colleges into nearby women’s general colleges.
Districts affected by the earlier merger included Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Chiniot, Sialkot, Narowal, and Rajanpur.
That decision impacted more than 400 teachers and thousands of students, many of whom were shifted into general education streams, sparking debate within academic circles.
Opposition from Teaching Community
The latest proposal has drawn strong opposition from the Commerce Professors and Lecturers Association, which has described the plan as part of a broader outsourcing and privatisation agenda targeting public sector colleges, particularly those offering specialised commerce education.
The association has warned that transferring colleges to universities could undermine the distinct identity of commerce education, disrupt faculty careers, and affect students pursuing professional business and accounting disciplines.
Government’s Position and Concerns Ahead
On the other hand, government officials argue that the restructuring will improve governance, reduce duplication of resources, and enhance academic quality by placing commerce colleges under the administrative and academic supervision of established universities.
Despite these assurances, educators, students, and parents have expressed concerns that the move could dilute specialised commerce curricula, create uncertainty for teaching staff, and lead to higher costs or reduced access in some regions.
As universities prepare feasibility reports, stakeholders across Punjab’s education sector are closely watching the next steps, which could significantly reshape the future of public sector commerce education in the province.
