The present study aimed to analyze the pervasiveness of defensive communication climate in higher education institutions in Pakistan. In this regard an attempt was made to investigate the six elements of defensive communication climate in the higher education institutions in Pakistan. The study also taken into account the differences between public and private sector institutions, with regard to extent up to which defensive communication climate prevails in these institutions. For the present study 5 public and 3 private sector universities located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were selected as the sample clusters. From the selected universities 20% of the faculty members of each department were taken as respondents / sample. For collection of data adapted form of Communication Climate Inventory and informal Interviews were used. Data analysis revealed that on the whole there was a considerable extent of defensive communication climate in public sector universities. But very interestingly some of the elements of defensive communication climate for example neutrality, strategy and evaluation were present to a significant extent in private sector universities as well. Majority of the respondents pointed out that elimination of defensive communication climate was crucial for assuring quality in the higher education institution. Therefore no- defensive communication climate be established, strengthened and maintained to gear efforts towards quality assurance and enhancement. It was suggested that seminars and forums be organized to discuss the issue and action oriented research be conducted to find out the factors creating defensive communication climate.