University Governance in Pakistan: Autonomy, Accountability, and Political Interference (2018–2024)

Abstract

University governance plays a decisive role in shaping the quality, credibility, and sustainability of higher education systems. In Pakistan, the governance of public universities has remained a contested space where institutional autonomy, accountability mechanisms, and political influence often intersect in complex ways. This study examines university governance in Pakistan during the period 2018 - 2024, with a particular focus on how political interference affects administrative decision making, academic freedom, and overall institutional performance. The research argues that while formal governance frameworks emphasize autonomy and accountability, their effective implementation has been undermined by persistent political involvement in key areas such as appointments, promotions, financial management, and policy formulation. Such interference weakens merit-based governance, erodes academic independence, and compromises universities’ ability to function as autonomous centers of learning and research. At the same time, accountability mechanisms remain uneven, often applied selectively rather than systematically, further contributing to institutional inefficiency and mistrust. Using a qualitative research approach, the study draws on policy documents, higher education regulations, official reports, and interviews with academic and administrative stakeholders to analyze governance practices across selected public universities. The findings highlight a growing gap between governance ideals and institutional realities, revealing how political pressures reshape internal power structures and decision-making processes. This research contributes to the broader discourse on higher education governance in developing countries by offering a contextualized analysis of Pakistan’s experience. It concludes by emphasizing the need for governance reforms that strengthen institutional autonomy, ensure transparent accountability, and insulate universities from undue political influence in order to enhance academic excellence and institutional effectiveness.