Today, May 30, 2026, applicants are exposing massive flaws in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) new digital degree attestation system. The HEC launched this online platform to make degree verification completely paperless and fast. Under this system, users submit requests and pay fees electronically without visiting physical offices. However, the reality looks entirely different. Applicants currently face severe delays, technical bugs, and zero transparency.
Illogical Cross-City Routing
First, the system suffers from a broken workflow. The portal frequently assigns applications to verification officers in completely random cities. For example, the system routes Karachi applications to attestation officers in Peshawar and Lahore. Similarly, applications from Lahore and Peshawar end up in Karachi or Quetta.
Consequently, out-of-province officers must coordinate with local universities. This illogical routing heavily prolongs the verification process. Furthermore, the system acts like a black box. Neither the applicants nor HEC officials know which officer is handling a specific case or where the verification is actually taking place.
HEC Digital Degree Attestation System Faces Severe Technical Glitches
Even if an applicant survives the routing delays, technical glitches ruin the final step. Many candidates successfully complete the attestation process. Yet, a system bug prevents them from generating, downloading, or printing their verified academic certificates. Stakeholders blame this ongoing failure on the HEC IT department’s severe negligence and lack of timely intervention.
Moreover, the new online portal completely removed the urgent-processing facility. The previous mechanism offered expedited processing for an additional fee. Now, applicants needing immediate verification for jobs, university admissions, or immigration have absolutely no options.
Demands & the HEC Response
Therefore, frustrated users are demanding immediate fixes. Applicants want the HEC to resolve the technical bugs right away. They also urge the commission to introduce a transparent case-tracking mechanism and reinstate the emergency processing option.
Meanwhile, the HEC has largely ignored these specific complaints. HEC Director General (Attestation) Hazrat Bilal responded to the criticism today with standard statements. He claimed the online system aims to facilitate applicants, streamline verification, enhance convenience, and reduce paperwork. However, the current state of the platform clearly fails to achieve its intended objectives.
