The Higher Education Commission (colloquially known as HEC) is a statutory body formed by the Government of Pakistan which was established in 2002 under the Chairmanship of Atta-ur-Rahman. Its main functions are funding, overseeing, regulating and accrediting the higher education institutions in the country.
It was first established in 1974 as University Grants Commission (UGC) and came into its modern form on 11 September 2002 after Atta-ur-Rahman’s reforms, which received international praise. The commission is responsible for formulating higher education policy and quality assurance to meet international standards as well as providing accrediting academic degrees, developing new institutions and uplift of existing institutions in Pakistan.
The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is an independent, autonomous, and constitutionally established institution of primary funding, overseeing, regulating, and accrediting the higher education efforts in Pakistan.
