A nationwide ban has been imposed on the establishment of new universities or sub-campuses without prior approval.
The Higher Education Commission Pakistan has taken a key decision regarding the creation of new universities and formally informed vice chancellors and institutional heads through a letter. According to the directive, no new university or sub-campus can be established without proper approval and scrutiny.
The letter states that the HEC will neither issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) or accreditation nor verify degrees for institutions set up in violation of the policy. Universities have been instructed to strictly comply with these regulations.
The decision has been attributed to concerns over substandard education, lack of qualified faculty, insufficient facilities, and weak infrastructure. The letter also highlighted concerns about the shortage of PhD-qualified teachers and students, particularly in tehsil-level campuses.
The HEC has ordered an immediate halt to faculty hiring and construction activities related to new campuses. It has also directed institutions to stop acquiring land for sub-campuses.
The commission warned that any violations could result in the suspension of approvals for campuses and academic programs.
In a separate development, HEC has announced the introduction of a completely digital degree attestation system, with the goal of ending physical verification and making the processes for academic credentials easier throughout Pakistan.
As per officials, the new system will use blockchain technology to guarantee secure, transparent, and tamper-resistant verification of academic degrees.
This represents a major transition from the conventional manual system, which frequently necessitated applicants to visit HEC offices and present physical documents.
With the new digital degree attestation system by HEC, applicants will have the capability to finalise the entire attestation process online.
This involves submitting applications, monitoring progress, and obtaining verified credentials without any physical interaction.
The initiative is expected to considerably decrease processing time, improve efficiency, and improve user convenience, particularly for overseas Pakistanis and students seeking employment or further education abroad.
Officials indicated that this initiative is part of broader efforts to digitise public services and align Pakistan’s educational system with global technological standards.
By employing blockchain, the digital attestation system will also assist in preventing fraud and ensuring the authenticity of degrees.
The HEC has confirmed that the agreement has already been executed, and development work is currently in progress. The system is projected to be fully operational by June 30, 2026.
Also read: HEC to introduce digital degree attestation system
