The main objective of the study was to know quality assurance system of higher education in Pakistan. The historical prospective of education system in Pakistan was reviewed. A primary and secondary data was collected from Education Departments of Government of Pakistan. Interviews were conducted from education experts to know their opinion regarding quality education status in Pakistan. On the basis of this data the paper has been prepared. The paper also narrated organizational structure of the quality assurance system in higher education of Pakistan.

Higher Education System in Pakistan had a major change after the establishment of Higher Education Commission (HEC) in 2003. To maintain quality in Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency was established which further opened Quality Enhancement Cells (QEC) in state owned universities and assigned them the task of carrying out measures of quality as approved by the agency. These Cells are headed by Quality Assurance Expert.

Study reveals that quality assurance model of Higher Education Commission is predominant model of quality assurance in the higher education sector of Pakistan. There is no linkage between internal and external quality assurance practices in the higher education sector of Pakistan. It is recommended that the gap between internal and external quality assurance can be filled in by introducing internal quality assurance practices in the ranking criteria and making periodic peer review and external academic audit compulsory for all the public and private higher education institutes of Pakistan. In order, to create awareness about quality assurance in higher education, workshops and trainings programs should be introduced.

Muhammad Qasim Rind
Pro Rector at National College of Business Administration and Economics, East Canal Campus Lahore. He worked as Professor at Preston University, Islamabad, Pakistan for 10 years, where he taught the subjects of Management Information System, Systems Analysis and Design and Business Statistics.

During this period, he has coordinated ten seminars on national issues of Pakistan for the benefit of students and participants from Public and private sector organizations. As well as, written and presented 15 research papers at National and International Conferences.

Dr. Rind worked as Director General, Management Services Wing, Establishment Division Government of Pakistan, Islamabad for 20 years during this period he conducted Management Studies for various Governmental Organizations, with the objectives for improving the efficiencies and effectiveness of these organizations. Dr. Rind also organized Seminars, Workshops, Conferences and Trainings for the Officers of Federal and Provincial Governments.

Nadia Qasim
Management Consultant, Agilenex Enterprise Solutions, Leeds, UK