There is significant leadership change in the higher education sector in the country officially announced by the federal government. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar has been made the new Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Official Notification and Tenure
The appointment became effective immediately, according to the notification of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of February 6, 2026.
In the capacity of the controlling authority, the Prime Minister gave consent to the one year appointment of Dr. Niaz Ahmed Akhtar whose statutory term was two years. This ruling is in line with Section 6(5) of HEC Ordinance as amended by HEC (Amendment) Act, 2021.
Legal Framework of the Appointment
This is confirmed by the official document, which is signed by the Deputy Secretary, Razia Ramzan Dossa, that the appointment was done according to Section 3 of Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002.
The notification has been distributed to the Secretariat of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Division and the Establishment Division thus officially changing the leadership in the commission. Dr. Akhtar will be the new head of the HEC in the mission of controlling, regulating and financing the institutions of higher learning in Pakistan.
