Lahore, 16 October 2026: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Regional Centre Lahore, organised an insightful webinar titled “Productivity Enhancement through AI in Higher Education: Benefits, Risks and the Way Forward for Pakistan”, featuring Prof. Dr. Syed Waqar ul Qounain, Chairman, Department of Information Technology, and Director, National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), University of the Punjab, Lahore, as the resource person.

The two-hour webinar brought together over 80 participants, providing a platform to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in improving productivity across Pakistan's higher education sector.

Prof. Dr. Syed Waqar ul Qounain discussed productivity in the broader context of human civilisation and technological advancement, highlighting how AI can enhance teaching, learning, research, academic administration and institutional decision-making.

The session explored practical AI applications, emerging opportunities, productivity measurement, associated risks, academic integrity and responsible AI adoption. Particular emphasis was placed on balancing technological innovation with educational quality, ethical considerations and human accountability.

The webinar underscored the importance of developing AI-ready higher education institutions through faculty capacity building, institutional governance, evidence-based adoption and sustainable implementation strategies suited to Pakistan's educational landscape.

The initiative reflects HEC's commitment to strengthening digital transformation, academic excellence and innovation in Pakistan's higher education sector.