The Higher Education Commission has introduced a fully digital and paperless degree attestation system, marking a major shift in how educational documents are verified in Pakistan.
The move is aimed at reducing delays, eliminating paperwork, and improving transparency for students and graduates across the country.
Under the new system, graduates can now apply for degree attestation online without visiting any office or carrying original documents. The entire process has been moved to a digital platform, making it accessible at any time from anywhere in Pakistan.
24 hour online access for graduates
The upgraded e-attestation service is now available 24 hours a day. Applicants can submit requests, upload required details, and track their applications through the online system without physical interaction with HEC offices.
Officials say this change is designed to reduce long queues, repeated visits, and manual document handling that previously slowed down the verification process. The system is expected to be especially useful for students applying for jobs or higher studies abroad who often face tight deadlines.
Original documents no longer required
One of the most significant changes is the removal of the requirement to present original certificates for attestation. Instead, the system relies on digital verification and institutional databases to confirm academic records.
This shift is expected to reduce the risk of document loss and also streamline verification for universities and employers. It also reflects a broader move toward digitisation in public sector services in Pakistan.
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A senior education official associated with the reform said the goal is to make verification faster and more reliable. The official noted that “the focus is now on secure digital validation rather than physical document handling.”
Nationwide rollout of e-attestation system
The new system has been implemented across Pakistan and became effective from May 11, 2026. It replaces much of the earlier manual process that required physical submission and in-person verification.
Students from major education hubs such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Peshawar are expected to benefit the most due to high application volumes. However, graduates from smaller cities and remote areas will also gain easier access without travelling long distances.
Education experts say this is one of the most significant administrative reforms in Pakistan’s higher education system in recent years.
Faster verification and improved transparency
The digital platform also enables online verification of already attested degrees. This feature is expected to improve transparency for employers, foreign universities, and credential verification agencies.
By shifting to a paperless system, HEC aims to reduce human intervention in routine verification tasks. This is expected to lower processing errors and speed up approvals.
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However, experts also note that the success of the system will depend on cybersecurity, database accuracy, and coordination between universities and HEC systems.
A step toward digital governance in education
The reform is part of a broader push toward digital governance in Pakistan’s education sector. Authorities believe that automation and online services will reduce administrative burden while improving service delivery.
For students and graduates, the change means fewer delays, lower travel costs, and easier access to essential academic services.
With the system now active nationwide, Pakistan’s higher education verification process has officially entered a fully digital phase, setting a new standard for public sector efficiency in the education sector.
