The issue of quality cannot be dissociated from the quest for excellence and the need to establish evaluation criteria. In order to assess local institutions with a global perspective, reviewing institutions against international quality benchmarks has gained precedence. Such criteria must however be adapted to take into account the diversity of situations, and the academic culture in Pakistan. The need to develop a culture of evaluation is inseparable from the concept of quality, itself intimately bound up with the successful democratization of the higher education system. Standard quality assessment practice involves the comparison between observed and intended outcomes of (programs and institutions) and continuous analysis of the sources of dysfunction. Both internal self evaluation and external review are vital components of any well-developed quality assurance system.

The key factors influencing the quality of higher education is the quality of faculty, curriculum standards, technological infrastructure available, research environment, accreditation regime and the administrative polices and procedures implemented in institutions of higher learning. It is absolutely critical to monitor and regulate growth of sub-standard institutions of higher learning. A comprehensive multi-level mechanism of accreditation is to be developed to ensure provision of quality education. Accreditation needs to occur at the department or program level, as well as the Institutional level.