Pakistan has taken another step toward digitising its education sector with the launch of the Maktab system, a centralized digital framework designed to maintain comprehensive academic records of students across public universities. Minister of State for Federal Education Wajiha Qamar announced the initiative at a press conference in Islamabad, explaining that the platform will record student data from initial enrolment through degree completion. Developed under the Higher Education Commission framework, the system will initially be rolled out in 25 public universities, with plans already in place to extend it to all public sector institutions nationwide. The move is aimed at streamlining academic documentation while strengthening transparency and accountability across higher education.
Under Maktab, each student’s academic journey will be available on a single digital platform, covering enrolment information, course performance, grades, transcripts, and records of degree issuance. According to the minister, this approach will significantly reduce administrative delays and manual paperwork, while ensuring data accuracy and easy verification for institutions and graduates alike. By centralising records, the system is also expected to simplify credential validation for employers, scholarship bodies, and international education authorities, improving the credibility and global recognition of Pakistani academic qualifications. Qamar noted that the availability of real-time academic data would save time for both students and universities, while offering a clearer overview of educational progress.
The digitisation drive is being supported by broader technology reforms across the education sector, including the planned use of artificial intelligence to manage academic processes and secure sensitive data. The minister said both HEC and the Federal Directorate of Education are playing leading roles in implementing digital governance tools, with several monitoring systems already operating through online portals. An AI-based platform designed to further automate oversight and data management is currently in the final stages of development. She also highlighted that tender scrutiny and institutional accountability have improved through digital systems, reducing manual handling and increasing transparency in procurement and administrative processes.
Beyond university records, the government has expanded digital services to other education bodies as well. The Inter Board Coordination Commission has introduced a 24-hour online system for equivalence and verification using a single digital identity, which has accelerated registration and documentation for both local and international boards. At the FDE level, a central e-portal has been launched for BS programme admissions, initially serving around 4,000 prospective students, with plans to extend it to additional academic programmes. Qamar also pointed to the availability of digital complaint mechanisms and e-katcheries that allow students and parents to raise concerns directly with education authorities, strengthening responsiveness and service delivery.
The introduction of the Maktab system reflects a wider government push to modernise Pakistan’s education infrastructure through technology-driven solutions. By integrating digital student records, AI-supported monitoring, and online verification platforms, authorities aim to create a more efficient, transparent, and student-focused academic environment. These reforms are intended to enhance educational quality, improve institutional accountability, and strengthen Pakistan’s standing in international academic systems, while gradually replacing fragmented manual processes with unified digital frameworks across the public education sector.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
