The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has released a draft framework governing the use of Artificial Intelligence in higher education, proposing new rules for students, researchers, faculty members and universities across Pakistan. The framework does not impose a complete ban on Artificial Intelligence tools but seeks to establish clear boundaries for their use in teaching, learning and research. A key provision would prevent students from using Artificial Intelligence to generate assignments, dissertations or theses and then submitting the material as their own original work. The draft also requires students and researchers to disclose the use of Artificial Intelligence in academic work by identifying the tool used and explaining its purpose. HEC has proposed the framework as a means of promoting responsible and transparent use of emerging technology while maintaining academic integrity and ensuring that students remain responsible for their own academic submissions.
Under the proposed policy, universities will be required to develop their own institutional Artificial Intelligence policies that clearly identify where AI tools are allowed, restricted or prohibited. The framework also states that Artificial Intelligence cannot be credited as an author of a research paper or academic publication, placing responsibility for the content and originality of academic work on human researchers. At the same time, the draft permits several uses of AI for educational and research purposes. Faculty members may use AI for activities such as tutoring, writing assistance, quiz generation, course design and research support. Researchers may also use AI for literature reviews, developing research questions, translation, language improvement and reference checking. However, AI generated facts, references and findings must be independently verified by humans, with researchers retaining responsibility for the accuracy of the final material.
The proposed framework also sets out restrictions on forms of Artificial Intelligence use that could compromise academic integrity. Fabricated references, fake research, invented data and AI generated false findings would be treated as serious academic misconduct. The policy further addresses the use of AI to conceal plagiarism, rewrite copied content to avoid detection and assist in cheating during examinations, with such practices subject to disciplinary action. HEC has also proposed a safeguard concerning AI detection systems, stating that students should not be penalized solely on the basis of an AI detection report. This provision recognizes that detection software alone may not provide sufficient grounds for determining whether a student has improperly used Artificial Intelligence. Instead, universities would need to consider the broader circumstances when dealing with suspected violations of the proposed rules.
Alongside restrictions, HEC plans to increase Artificial Intelligence literacy across higher education institutions. Universities would be required to integrate AI literacy into their curricula within two years, while annual AI training programmes would be organized for faculty members, students and administrative staff. Each course outline would also be expected to specify acceptable AI use from the beginning of the course, giving students clearer guidance about how the technology can be used for individual subjects. Universities would also establish dedicated AI committees responsible for overseeing implementation, handling complaints, monitoring compliance and reporting on AI usage, violations, training activities and policy developments. The proposed framework therefore combines restrictions on submitting AI generated academic work as original material with permitted uses of AI for learning, research and productivity, placing transparency, human verification and academic responsibility at the centre of its approach.
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