Education specialists, scholars, and policy analysts expressed grave concerns on Monday about the nation's declining educational system and called on the government to implement extensive and immediate policy changes.

Participants in a webinar organized by the Alliance for Good Governance Foundation with the subject "Shaping the Future: Reforming Pakistan's Higher Education through Policy Innovation" emphasized that the country's higher education system is at a pivotal juncture. The industry runs the risk of experiencing additional declines in quality, accessibility, and relevance in the absence of a defined national policy.

Public health and education specialist Dr. Mubashaira began the meeting by characterizing the state of affairs as an education catastrophe. "Our institutions will continue to produce graduates who are not prepared for real-world challenges unless significant reforms are implemented," she cautioned. She advocated for the inclusion of digital skills, innovation, and hands-on learning in the educational system.

Advocate for youth education Kanwal Bijoro drew attention to the widening gap between urban and rural education and underlined the necessity of more funding for internet access, educated teachers, and rural infrastructure. According to her, "If this disparity is not addressed, we are effectively writing off an entire generation in underdeveloped regions."

Bijoro maintained that equitable access to high-quality education is necessary to empower underprivileged and distant populations before any change can take place. "Trained teachers, digital access, learning resources, and continuous professional development are just as important as buildings."

Speaking on skill-based learning, Dr. Shahida Naveed underlined that the foundation of any successful economy is a system of education based on skills. The ability to adapt, think critically, and use practical skills will be crucial in the future, she said.

She emphasized the necessity to abandon antiquated scholarly models. She urged tighter cooperation between the government, business community, and academic institutions, saying that "technical skills, entrepreneurship, and digital fluency are the real building blocks of a modern economy—success isn't limited to degrees."

It is no longer possible to maintain traditional educational methods that disregard these factors. For Pakistan to close the gap between academia and industry, skill-based learning must be adopted.

Curriculum expert Syed Yasir Ali brought attention to the out-of-date material that is taught at many universities and institutions. He declared, "Redesigning the curriculum is no longer an option; it is now required." "We are still teaching theories and models from decades ago, which are totally out of step with the demands of the market and the latest technological developments."

He suggested that in order to develop a curriculum that is adaptable, flexible, and globally aligned, a national task committee made up of educators, business executives, and legislators be established.

The discussion ended with a warning from Alliance Convenor Dr. Tariq Khan that Pakistan is at a turning point. He urged a national education emergency and a single roadmap including all parties—government, academic institutions, the commercial sector, and civil society—stating that "we must choose between reform and regression."

Dr. Khan underlined the importance of integrating cross-disciplinary learning, environmental education, and AI literacy in order to equip a generation capable of handling the problems of the twenty-first century.

Along with calling for better responsibility and governance in higher education, participants also emphasized the dearth of oversight and quality control in public schools and universities.

The webinar ended with a unanimous resolution calling on the federal and provincial governments to immediately overhaul educational policies, with an emphasis on long-term planning as opposed to band-aid solutions. The creation of a National Skills Council, the revision of higher education governance frameworks, the raising of public education spending to at least 4% of GDP, and the introduction of national teacher training programs were among the main proposals.

All of the recommendations and research findings from the webinar will be compiled into a white paper by the Alliance for Good Governance Foundation, which will then send it to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Education for consideration and action.