The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to re-examine the academic records of thousands of students. The move targets 36,931 students linked with unauthorized campuses.
The decision was taken during the 46th meeting of the Higher Education Commission. The session was chaired by Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.
Officials said the HEC aims to ensure transparency in academic verification. An independent committee will be formed for this purpose. It will include experts from outside the HEC system.
The committee will review student records that were earlier marked complete. These cases are linked to institutions later identified as unauthorized campuses.
The HEC clarified that it will only provide administrative and secretariat support. The actual verification work will be done independently. Some members of the commission also recorded dissenting opinions during the meeting.
The review will also include graduates whose degrees were previously attested. Their verification status was later suspended. This action was taken after concerns emerged about unauthorized study locations.
The HEC decided that all such cases will be re-examined. The independent committee will review documents before any final decision is made. This step is meant to ensure fairness and accuracy in the process.
Officials said the HEC is focusing on improving the credibility of academic qualifications. They emphasized that no compromise will be made on authenticity.
In another major reform, the HEC approved changes to the degree attestation system. The commission decided to replace physical attestation with a digital verification process.
This new system will rely on electronic records and evidence-based checks. The goal is to make the process faster and more transparent.
The HEC also removed the requirement for submitting previous or additional academic qualifications for attestation. Officials said this change will simplify procedures for students.
According to the announcement, the updated system will reduce delays and administrative workload. It is also expected to improve efficiency in degree verification.
Education experts believe the reforms will modernize Pakistan’s higher education system. They say the new HEC policies will strengthen trust in academic credentials.
In other related news also read HEC Launches Online Degree Attestation System Nationwide
The latest decisions highlight the HEC focus on accountability and digital transformation. The commission aims to ensure that only valid and verified degrees are recognized in the future.
