The purpose of this study was to compare the HRM practices of public and private universities in Punjab province of Pakistan. The data for the study was collected through a questionnaire comprising 30 items mainly related to job definition, training and development, compensation, team work, employee's participation and performance appraisal. The instrument was validated through pilot testing. The internal reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.85. The sample was comprised of 60 executives (directors/heads of departments) selected randomly from six universities. The collected data was analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as means and independent sample t-test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in HRM practices according to executives of public and private universities. HRM practices in the areas of job definition, training and development, compensation, team work and employees participation were better in the public universities than private universities. However, performance appraisal practices were found better in the private universities than public sector universities. At the end recommendations were made for the HRM executives of private and public universities to improve their HRM practices in favor of their employees.