Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has successfully concluded a nationwide faculty training initiative as part of the Fehm-e-Quran program, a move aimed at integrating religious understanding and ethical values within the country’s higher education system.

According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, this initiative was introduced following a directive from the Chairman of HEC on March 28, 2025, which made the Fehm-e-Quran course a compulsory subject for all undergraduate and graduate programs in HEC-recognized universities. The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) was tasked with implementing a structured training program for university faculty to support this mandate.

The training program was conducted in two phases, combining online orientations with in-person workshops at regional hubs to ensure broad participation across the nation. Faculty from 229 out of 267 universities were trained, covering 85.7 percent of institutions nationwide. The program included 190 universities engaging in physical workshops and 39 universities through online orientations.

Regionally, Punjab led in compliance, with 94.8 percent of its universities completing the training. Other regions, including the Federal area, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, also recorded significant participation. Dr. Ubaid-ur-Rehman Bashir, Consultant for Fehm-e-Quran, has been providing ongoing support and guidance to the universities involved since May 2025.

Following the successful training phase, NAHE intends to move towards implementation and compliance, utilizing online platforms like MS Teams to address any additional training needs. This initiative is seen as a major step in enhancing the educational and ethical framework of Pakistan’s higher education system.

The Higher Education Commission continues to emphasize its commitment to academic excellence and value-based education, aligning with national priorities and aspirations.