The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced Pakistan’s first draft policy on artificial intelligence (AI) use in higher education, directing universities to establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of AI in teaching, learning, and research.

The proposed framework requires universities to define where AI tools can be used, where restrictions apply, and how students, faculty members, and researchers must disclose AI involvement in academic work.

Under the draft policy, students will not be allowed to generate assignments, dissertations, or theses through AI tools and submit them as their own work. Any use of AI in academic tasks will require disclosure of the tool used and its purpose.

The policy also states that AI tools cannot be listed as authors of research papers or academic publications, while researchers will remain responsible for verifying all AI-generated information, references, and findings.

HEC has directed universities to introduce AI literacy courses within two years to help students understand the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence. Institutions will also be required to arrange annual AI training sessions for students, faculty, and administrative staff.

The draft encourages educators to use AI for academic support, including tutoring, course planning, quiz creation, research assistance, and writing support. Researchers may also use AI for literature reviews, language improvement, translation, and reference checking, provided all outputs are verified by humans.

The proposed policy identifies fabricated references, fake research, invented data, AI-generated false results, and using AI to hide plagiarism as serious academic misconduct. It also warns against using AI tools to cheat in examinations or manipulate academic submissions.

However, HEC clarified that students cannot face penalties solely based on AI detection reports, acknowledging concerns over the accuracy of such systems.

The commission has proposed that universities establish dedicated AI committees to oversee implementation, handle complaints, monitor compliance, and submit annual reports covering AI usage, violations, training initiatives, and policy updates.