The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Friday urged the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to streamline the degree attestation process, citing that the current system is cumbersome and imposes unnecessary financial burdens on students.
The committee, chaired by MNA Nuzhat Sadiq, reviewed the implementation report of a previous assurance given by the Minister for Education regarding issues in degree attestation. Members emphasized that the time between submitting an attestation application and its completion should be significantly reduced.
Responding to the concerns, the HEC chairman informed the committee that a comprehensive blockchain-based system is being developed as part of ongoing digital transformation efforts. The system is designed to be robust and secure and is expected to go live before June 30, 2026. Initially, it will connect the HEC with 25 universities and the Attestation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The committee also requested a joint presentation by HEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the degree attestation process to further improve efficiency and transparency.
Additionally, the committee discussed the exclusion of newly introduced professional degrees, such as business data analysis, from the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund (FEBF) fee reimbursement scheme. It directed the Establishment Division to revise its rules to include all professional degrees recognized by HEC and relevant accreditation councils. The secretary of the Establishment Division assured that the rules would be amended accordingly to cover newly introduced degrees.
