The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is moving forward with a broad set of institutional reforms aimed at overhauling how the country’s higher education sector is governed, digitised, and connected to the global academic community. Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar outlined these initiatives at a press conference held at the HEC Secretariat, covering improvements across coordination, accreditation, digital facilitation, and international academic collaboration.
Among the most tangible developments announced is the launch of a fully online, paperless degree attestation system, a shift designed to reduce delays and improve the overall experience for students and graduates seeking document verification. Dr. Akhtar also highlighted that work is actively underway to revamp existing accreditation councils while establishing new ones across key academic disciplines, addressing longstanding gaps in quality assurance across the higher education sector. On the governance side, he pointed to enhanced coordination with universities, provincial Higher Education Commissions, and other accreditation bodies, alongside field visits to assess the specific needs of institutions across the country.
The reforms also cover efforts to raise the global standing of Pakistani universities, with task forces, National Centres of Excellence, and National Chairs in emerging academic fields all contributing to improved performance in international rankings. On the internationalisation front, HEC has introduced a dual, double, and joint degree policy intended to broaden academic partnerships with institutions abroad and give Pakistani students greater access to globally recognised qualifications. Transparency in testing and curriculum standards is being addressed through mandatory assessment via the HEC Education Testing Council and the National Skills Competency Test, both of which are being positioned as tools for aligning academic output with national and international standards.
Dr. Akhtar also noted progress on the resolution of thousands of pending degree cases that had accumulated over time, along with the revival of talent hunt programmes aimed at identifying and supporting high-potential students. Reaffirming the commission’s direction, he stated that HEC remains committed to building a transparent, digital, and globally competitive higher education sector, with the reforms currently underway representing a sustained effort rather than a one-time intervention.
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