Higher education is vital for personal development, economic growth, and an improved quality of life for individuals within a nation. However, on 15th August 1947 when India and Pakistan both became two independently governed nations, educational policies were dormant. The importance of well-educated individuals for national progress became evident as educational policies were devised and implemented. In contemporary life, both India and Pakistan have National Education Policies from 1947 which have been amended and used within modern day. However, the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic has cause global havoc affecting societies economically, socially, politically and causing major disruptions in higher education. This study aims to compare the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on higher education in India and Pakistan. There is a focus on civilization, culture, and society with the endeavor to facilitate progression in the new normal world. A comparative review is carried out via a systematic process of published and grey literature sources. A well-planned process is implemented to search, identify, extract from, analyze, evaluated, and interpret literature sources utilizing electronic and manual databases. Results have identified that the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted existing inequalities in both India and Pakistan. These inequalities have been identified to range from: Digital inequalities; poverty and financial implications; cultural disparities encompassing gender inequalities; religious neutrality; curriculum inequalities between higher education institutions facilitated by the eighteenth amendment in the constitution of Pakistan and differing views within the National Education Policy India. Indian and Pakistani civilizations have been affected similarly, as the compliance of lockdown regulations, personal protective equipment was implemented impacting upon student mental health, in addition to heightened social and cultural biases. Political instability has contributed to failure of educational policies and partial implementation of objectives stated within independent policies devised within higher educational institutions. This study has deduced that educational progression is vital for societal progress and requires modification in accordance with societal challenges encountered during the covid-19 pandemic. Through well-educated individuals social and cultural justice can be attained and inequalities eradicated. It is necessary for Indian and Pakistani higher education institutions to work in unison through technological resources and collaborate with international governing bodies and non-governmental organisations towards ensuring quality, unified education is accessible to students of all ages and facilitating societies towards a self-sustainable future aiding cultural and societal development. Keywords: Covid-19, Education, India, Pakistan, Society