BY: Naveed Satti / ANI
Islamabad/Murree: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has temporarily suspended fresh admissions to computing-related programmes at Kohsar University Murree after listing the institution for review under its National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) 2026 quality assurance initiative. The decision has sparked serious concerns among students, parents, and education stakeholders.
Kohsar University, the only public university serving the Murree region, has more than 100 Software Engineering and over 150 Computer Science students. The suspension has triggered questions about whether the university fulfilled HEC’s prescribed academic, faculty, laboratory, and infrastructure standards required for computing programmes.
The development has also intensified public scrutiny of the university administration. Critics argue that if deficiencies existed, they should have been identified and addressed well before HEC was compelled to suspend new admissions. The situation has also prompted questions about the effectiveness of oversight and support provided to the institution by the relevant public authorities and elected representatives.
Education experts say the suspension does not mean the university has been closed or that existing students must stop attending classes. However, they stress that HEC should publicly clarify the specific deficiencies identified during the evaluation and provide a clear roadmap for the university’s compliance.
As uncertainty grows, students and parents are demanding transparency from both HEC and the university administration. They want to know how the institution reached this stage, who was responsible for ensuring compliance, and when admissions will be restored. The controversy has once again highlighted broader concerns about quality assurance and accountability in Pakistan’s public higher education sector.
