The Higher Education Department (HED) Punjab has launched a major restructuring initiative, proposing the transfer of nearly 76 public sector commerce colleges to 17 public sector universities across the province. The decision, revealed by Provincial Minister for Higher and School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat in a recent social media statement, marks a significant shift in the administration and operational structure of commerce education in Punjab.
As part of the plan, the government has formally instructed the vice chancellors of these universities to assume administrative control of the commerce colleges within their respective jurisdictions. A letter issued on December 18 directs the universities to submit comprehensive one-year feasibility reports addressing academic planning, market-driven program proposals, employability considerations, resource allocation, and implementation timelines.
Institutions assigned to lead this transition include the University of the Punjab, Government College University Lahore, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, University of Sargodha, and Islamia University Bahawalpur, among others.
This development follows a similar merger in 2024, when all standalone commerce colleges, eight of which were women’s institutions, were absorbed into general colleges. That earlier move affected college networks in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Sialkot, leading to administrative changes impacting over 400 faculty members and thousands of enrolled students.
The latest proposal has drawn immediate criticism from the Commerce Professors and Lecturers Association, which argues the restructuring will pave the way for outsourcing and may weaken the specialized academic identity of commerce education. Despite government assurances that the reform is designed to enhance resource efficiency and align programs with market needs, both faculty and students have voiced apprehension that commerce-focused learning could be compromised under broader university oversight.
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The feasibility reports and subsequent decisions are expected to determine the timeline and scale of implementation in 2025.