Punjab University moves to restore private BA and MA exams, two years after HEC ban

Punjab University (PU) has decided to bring back private BA and MA examinations and has written to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to seek approval, ProPakistani reported on Wednesday. The HEC stopped private BA and MA degree programmes two years ago.

Who decided and why

According to PU's registrar, the university's Syndicate passed a resolution in favour of restoring the exams, and Syndicate members have asked the Punjab Assembly to allow them. Their argument:

• closing private exams cut a large part of the population off from higher education;
• private BA and MA papers were the main route to a degree for students in rural and remote areas who cannot attend a campus;
• working people used them to keep studying while holding a job.

What it means for students

Nothing changes yet. The exams return only if the Assembly and the HEC agree, and neither has responded publicly. PU has not announced eligibility, fees, an admission schedule or an exam date, so anyone planning to sit a private BA or MA should wait for the university's own notice on pu.edu.pk rather than pay an agent or a "guaranteed admission" offer.

The HEC's policy since the ban has been to replace two-year BA, BSc and MA programmes with four-year BS degrees and the Associate Degree, which most universities, PU included, now offer on campus and through affiliated colleges. A restored private route would sit alongside those, not replace them.

When PU publishes a schedule, we will update this story. For grade conversions in the meantime, use our CGPA calculator, and for other board and university notices see the education desk.