Lahore – August 31, 2025: Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, Sardar Masood Khan, has said that transnational education holds the potential to open new doors for Pakistan’s progress.
Addressing the Vice Chancellors’ Conference 2025, hosted by Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Masood Khan stressed that investment in education is indispensable as nearly 25 million children in Pakistan remain out of school. He said international-quality education is now achievable within the country at a fraction of the cost, creating opportunities for thousands of families.
He highlighted that Pakistan has over 275 universities, yet the focus must shift toward strengthening quality, global competitiveness, and institutional linkages. “Our next step should be to align our universities with international standards and markets,” he remarked.
Explaining the importance of transnational education, he noted that 11,000 to 13,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in programs of leading UK universities such as the University of London, London School of Economics, and University of Hertfordshire. He pointed out that a degree costing around Rs. 40 million in London can be completed for Rs. 4 million in Pakistan under transnational arrangements, bridging the gap between opportunity and deprivation for many families.
Masood Khan underlined that Pakistan’s middle class, now around 80 million strong, is driving the demand for international degrees, with graduates from such programs taking leadership roles in corporate sectors, startups, and emerging industries.
He urged policymakers to prioritize reforms in primary and secondary education alongside higher education to ensure holistic progress. Citing Pakistan’s young and tech-savvy population, he said the country already ranks as the world’s third-largest freelancing force, with youth engaged in artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and IoT.
“This is a moment where Pakistan can move not gradually but at a rapid pace towards progress,” he concluded.
The conference was attended by eminent international and local scholars, including Professor Dr. Andreas Buekert (University of Kassel, Germany), Dr. Asif Chaudhry (Washington State University), Professor Raheel Nawaz (Staffordshire University), Dr. John K. Schueller (University of Florida), and Dr. Rehan Sadiq (University of British Columbia). Former Punjab Governor Lt Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool, LUMS Pro Chancellor Syed Babar Ali, and Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi, Chairman of Knowledge Streams, also addressed the gathering.
