ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has increased the fees for degree attestation from 1,000 to 3,000 rupees.
According to the chairman of the HEC, Niaz Ahmed Akhtar was a part of an effort aimed at implementing a fully automated paperless attestation program throughout the nation. Some part of the increased fee will be paid to the universities for conducting verification processes of documents.
As per the new online scheme, students do not have to personally come to the HEC office premises or send their documents through courier services. Instead, they can apply for the attestation process online from the comfort of their homes and obtain digitally verified certificates of e-attestation.
Akhtar emphasized that, in the previous process, students were burdened with extra costs concerning university verification, photocopier charges, and transportation. He highlighted that this new scheme would especially help those students who lived in far-off regions.
HEC launches dual degree programs for students
Earlier, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced a major academic reform introducing dual, double, and joint degree programs across universities in Pakistan, aimed at equipping students with broader skills and improving access to global education standards.
Under the new academic scheme, students will have the opportunity to study two degree programs concurrently, helping them gain more knowledge across different disciplines and enhance their professional skills.
According to the HEC officials, this policy is expected to help students save their precious time and resources along with bringing Pakistan’s academic system at par with international education standards. Moreover, the universities are allowed to develop joint-degree programs with other foreign universities.
For instance, one can study Islamic Studies along with Political Sciences, or Business Administration in conjunction with Law, depending upon the requirements of specific universities.
The HEC stated in its press statement that the current policy would also foster academic relationships among Pakistani and international universities, and pave the way for joint degree programs which may prove helpful in securing global employment opportunities for graduates.
Experts in the field of education have hailed the initiative as a step in the right direction, considering the need for interdisciplinary knowledge in today’s workplace environment.
