The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Amendment Bill 2025, approving an increase in the age limit for the chairman of the commission to 69 years.
The amendment bill was presented by government member Amjad Ali Javed, who explained that the legislation aims to introduce a clear age limit for the head of the higher education regulatory body. He pointed out that previously there was no restriction on the age of the PHEC chairman, allowing individuals to continue in the position indefinitely.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Javed remarked that “if someone wants to remain chairman for a hundred years, he can remain,” highlighting the absence of formal limits under the existing framework. He noted that the current chairman of PHEC is 75 years old.
Emphasizing the need for institutional efficiency, Javed said that with the passage of time, human capacity naturally declines, while the chairman’s role requires constant oversight and critical decision-making across the entire higher education system. “A restriction on age should be imposed because the chairman has to take decisions after looking at the entire system,” he added.
The lawmaker also stressed the importance of institutional continuity over individual personalities. “Some people consider themselves indispensable, while graveyards are full of indispensable people. The system keeps running,” he said, arguing that leadership renewal is essential for healthy governance.
He stated that setting an age limit would create opportunities for talented and capable younger professionals to contribute to the education sector. Under the newly passed amendment, the chairman of PHEC will not be allowed to serve beyond the age of 69 years.
In a separate development, the Punjab Assembly also passed The Superior University Lahore Amendment Bill 2025. The bill was presented by government Member of Assembly Soumya Atta Shahani.