When universities weaken, nations do not merely lose graduates; they lose direction. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, higher education appears trapped in a recurring cycle of deficit, agitation, bailout and renewed crisis. The debate is no longer whether universities face financial stress. The governance of public universities in the province is regulated under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, 2012. Systems weaken, and when systems weaken, institutions decline - regardless of who sits in office.

Source: The Express Tribune March 17, 2026 14:32 UTC