The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has signed a strategic agreement with CMPAK Private Limited, operating under the Zong 5G brand, and its joint venture partner Wibbow Technologies, to introduce a fully digital degree attestation and verification system built on blockchain technology. The announcement was made by HEC Chairman Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, who confirmed that the agreement has been signed and that the new system is expected to become operational by June 30, 2026. The initiative represents a significant shift in how academic credentials are verified in the country, moving away from a process that has long required physical visits to HEC offices and manual document submission.
Under the new framework, applicants will no longer need to travel to HEC offices or present physical documents for attestation purposes. The entire process will be completed online, allowing individuals to apply, track their cases, and receive verification from any location. By leveraging blockchain technology, the system is designed to ensure that degree records are tamper-proof, instantly verifiable, and accessible to employers, universities, and government institutions both domestically and internationally. The use of a distributed ledger also adds a layer of transparency and permanence to academic records that paper-based systems have historically been unable to provide, a particularly important feature given ongoing concerns about degree fraud and credential misrepresentation in Pakistan.
The move has drawn widespread attention from the academic community, with thousands of reactions on social media and substantive discussion among professionals about what the system should deliver. Many graduates have cited years of delays, bureaucratic dead ends, and the practical burden of travelling to Islamabad for attestation as longstanding pain points. The agreement signals HEC’s recognition that the current system has created barriers for applicants, particularly those based in cities other than Islamabad or those seeking equivalence certifications while already abroad. Professionals and academics have also called on HEC to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address related processes such as the apostille of academic syllabi, which has presented difficulties for candidates pursuing recognition of their qualifications internationally.
The partnership with Zong 5G and Wibbow Technologies positions HEC within a broader national push toward digitization of public services, and places Pakistan’s higher education credentialing infrastructure more closely in line with global practices. Several countries have already adopted blockchain-based academic verification systems to combat fraud and streamline cross-border recognition of qualifications. For Pakistan, where a growing number of graduates seek opportunities abroad and where foreign employers and institutions require verified credentials, a reliable and digitally accessible attestation system carries significant implications for the country’s human capital mobility and the credibility of its academic institutions on the international stage.
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