The Higher Education Commission has formally launched its fully digital, paperless Degree Attestation System, replacing the traditional in-person and paper-based process with a blockchain-powered online platform. However, applicants are reporting delays in processing times, raising questions about the system’s readiness to handle volume at scale despite the significant infrastructure investment behind it. The upgraded system is aimed at eliminating the need for applicants to physically present at HEC offices and removing the long queues that have long defined the degree attestation experience. Students, graduates, and professionals can now complete a large part of the attestation process online, with the help of a blockchain-based platform, automated verification systems, and courier handling of physical documents.
One of the most common reasons applications are stalling is the system’s requirement for a complete academic chain. Candidates are required to upload their full academic history from Matric certificates onwards, even when the attestation request is only for a final degree such as a Master’s qualification. Applications that bypass intermediate qualifications, Bachelor’s records, or supporting transcripts may be marked as deficient, slowing down approval and triggering additional verification steps. Officials have asked applicants to scan and upload all educational documents clearly and in chronological order to enable smooth digital processing, as this supports the system’s ability to automatically verify academic progression without extensive manual review.
To implement the platform, HEC has signed an agreement with CMPak Limited and its joint venture partner Wibbow Technologies. The collaboration aims to develop a digital infrastructure that supports fast processing and reliable verification services. In its initial phase, the system will link HEC with 25 universities and the Attestation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with officials confirming the system is scheduled to be fully operational by June 30, 2026. The move follows repeated concerns raised at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances, which directed HEC to reduce the turnaround time for degree verification, describing the existing system as time-consuming and costly for students.
The digital platform is expected to significantly benefit students living in remote areas or abroad who often face challenges accessing HEC offices, with users able to share verified degrees electronically with employers, universities, and foreign institutions, reducing delays and improving global acceptance of Pakistani qualifications. For now, however, the transition period is proving challenging for applicants who are navigating an unfamiliar system with strict document requirements while also contending with processing backlogs as the platform scales up. As the June 30, 2026 operational deadline approaches, HEC and its technology partners face the immediate challenge of clearing the queue of pending applications and ensuring that the system’s automated verification works consistently at the volume a national-level platform demands.
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