Doctoral education primarily concentrates on the cultivation of appropriate research skills to undertake an independent inquiry where eduaction is imparted through highly personalized arrangements supported by the supervisor and the supervisory committee. This goal imposes special responsibilities on the PhD student’s supervisors who must guide students towards the productive lines of research and ethical conduct and help build student’s professional career.
The approved PhD supervisor program was initially started by the University Grant Commission. Eventually, Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) became principal agency responsible for evaluating and approving faculty and researchers as PhD supervisor. However, PCST's emphasis was only on the discipline of Science and Technology. It was in February 2004 when the whole program was taken over by Higher Education Commission. The HEC Approved PhD Supervisor is the requirement for those scholars who have been awarded HEC scholarships.