Why HEC rechecks 37,000 students’ degrees - Verification details inside

The HEC degree re-verification move has raised major questions about academic records across Pakistan.

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The Higher Education Commission has decided to re-examine academic credentials of 36,931 students. These students were enrolled at unauthorized campuses and their records will now be checked again.

The decision was taken during the 46th meeting of the HEC. The meeting was chaired by Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.

According to officials, an independent committee will be formed for the verification process. The committee will include external experts from outside the HEC.

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The HEC said it will only provide secretariat support to the committee. Some members of the commission also recorded dissenting notes on the decision.

The commission also reviewed cases where degrees had already been attested. Later, it was found that some students had studied at unauthorized campuses. These cases will also be re-examined by the independent committee. Further action will be taken only after the review is completed.

The HEC has also approved major reforms in the degree attestation system. The old physical attestation process will now be replaced with a digital system. This new system will be based on evidence-based verification. Officials say it will make the process more transparent and faster.

The commission also removed the requirement to submit previous or later academic qualifications for attestation. This step is aimed at simplifying the verification process. HEC officials believe these changes will reduce delays and improve accuracy. However, the decision has also raised debate within academic circles.

The re-verification move shows growing concern about fake or unauthorized academic setups. It also highlights gaps in the previous verification system.

Students affected by this decision may face delays in degree validation. Authorities say the goal is to ensure only valid qualifications are recognized.

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This decision shows that HEC is tightening its academic monitoring system. It also reflects growing pressure to clean up irregularities in higher education. While the digital system may improve efficiency, the re-verification process could create short-term uncertainty for many students.