The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed all universities and degree awarding institutions across Pakistan to obtain accreditation for their business and management degree programmes from the National Business Education Accreditation Council (NBEAC), warning that failure to comply may result in regulatory action, including the suspension of admissions.
In a letter issued on June 24, 2026, HEC Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar informed vice chancellors, rectors, presidents and heads of institutions that the commission placed high priority on quality assurance and continuous improvement in higher education to enhance academic standards, relevance and international competitiveness.
According to the letter, the NBEAC, established under the auspices of the HEC, serves as Pakistan’s national accreditation body for business and management education programmes. Its accreditation framework provides a comprehensive mechanism for evaluating institutional governance, academic programmes and curricula, faculty qualifications, student support services, research and innovation, industry linkages and overall institutional effectiveness.
The HEC expressed concern that a significant number of business education degree programmes offered by higher education institutions had yet to obtain NBEAC accreditation. Consequently, all universities and degree-awarding institutions offering business education have been advised to ensure that their respective business schools, faculties, institutes and departments secure accreditation by Fall 2027 and demonstrate compliance with the minimum quality standards prescribed by the council.
The commission cautioned that institutions failing to meet the required standards within the stipulated timeframe would be liable to regulatory action under the applicable HEC policies and legal framework. Such measures may include the stoppage of admissions in the concerned programmes. The letter stated that relevant documents, including the registration application form and accreditation manual, were available through the council’s official platform.
