The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has strongly opposed the Sindh government’s decision to appoint bureaucrats as vice-chancellors of public universities in the province. In a letter to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed that such a move was detrimental to academic integrity. He urged the provincial administration to abandon plans to amend the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws Act, 2018, to facilitate such changes. Dr. Ahmed expressed serious concern over reports of proposed legislative amendments that would change the criteria for appointment of VCs and principals of public universities in Sindh. The proposed changes, if passed, will allow non-PhD holders to be eligible for these key academic positions, a move that the HEC warns will harm the academic standards of higher education institutions. Appointing non-academic administrators to positions traditionally reserved for academics could undermine academic freedom, stifle critical thinking and set a damaging precedent for other provinces, the letter says. "Such decisions will have far-reaching consequences for the quality and autonomy of higher education."

Referring to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decision dated 7 April 2021, the letter reminds the Sindh Government that HEC is recognized as the sole national standard setting body for higher education in Pakistan. The CCI resolution reinforced the need for the HEC to monitor and maintain uniformity in higher education policies nationwide.