: KP Vice Chancellors Pledge Reforms, Honour 216 Top 2% Global Scientists at KMU Conference

Peshawar, April 2026 — Vice Chancellors and Rectors from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa convened at Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, to reaffirm their collective commitment to advancing higher education, research, and institutional development in the province.A key highlight of the conference was the Research Excellence Awards ceremony, where 216 scientists from KP universities were honoured for being ranked among the world’s top 2% researchers. The recognition underscores the growing research strength and global impact of the province’s higher education institutions.KP Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi outlined the government’s reform agenda, stressing performance-based funding, strengthened accountability, increased student support, free education for deserving students, and paid internships for graduates.Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar emphasized the need to enhance academic competitiveness to meet global benchmarks. Secretary Higher Education Dr. Muhammad Israr Khan, HEC Executive Director Dr. Zia Ul Haq, former HEC Executive Director Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi, and Chairman KP Vice Chancellors Forum Dr. Sadiq Khattak also shared insights during the sessions.The conference included comprehensive briefings on research, innovation, scholarships, quality assurance, and digital transformation. Participants called for greater institutional autonomy, improved governance, and integration of emerging technologies into teaching and research.The forum concluded with a renewed pledge by KP’s academic leadership to work collaboratively toward a modern, competitive, and research-driven higher education system aligned with international standards.