Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced a landmark initiative to transform the degree attestation process through blockchain technology, promising to eliminate physical documentation requirements and provide instant verification for graduates across the country.

The fully automated system, announced in December 2025, is expected to be operational by June 2026, marking a significant departure from the lengthy and often cumbersome manual processes that have frustrated graduates for years.

Under the new framework, degree verification will take place entirely online, with all records digitally secured on a blockchain network. For graduates from the 25 higher education institutions that have already implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, student information will be automatically integrated into the blockchain upon graduation.

For institutions still operating without ERP systems, degrees and transcripts will be submitted online through the HEC portal, where they will be forwarded to respective university dashboards for verification. Once verified by the university, documents will be immediately integrated into the blockchain, making them accessible through the HEC Portal.

The shift builds on existing HEC’s digital education initiatives that have sought to modernise the sector through technology partnerships.

The most immediate impact for graduates will be the elimination of physical presence requirements. Under the new system, applicants will no longer need to visit HEC offices or submit physical documents. Instead, verified degrees will be directly accessible through the HEC Portal.

Verification will also become available instantly to all relevant stakeholders, including government departments, the Foreign Office, embassies and private organisations. This is expected to dramatically reduce the verification time that currently delays employment and immigration processes.

The move aligns with broader government efforts to digitise public services, building on initiatives like the e-passport system and other digital ID systems that have modernised citizen-government interactions.

One of the key drivers behind the initiative is the need to combat fraudulent credentials. The current system has been criticised for its vulnerability to fake degrees and forged documents, which have occasionally surfaced years after initial verification.

By storing degree records on an immutable blockchain, the HEC aims to create a permanent, tamper-proof record that cannot be altered retroactively. This will make it significantly more difficult for fraudulent credentials to pass verification.

The initiative has been welcomed by employers and recruitment agencies who have long called for more reliable verification systems. The integration with existing digital identity infrastructure is expected to further strengthen the credibility of verified credentials.

While the system is not expected to be fully operational until June 2026, graduates are advised to familiarise themselves with the upcoming changes. The HEC has indicated that detailed guidelines will be published ahead of the launch date.

For those seeking employment or scholarships abroad, the new system should significantly streamline the credential verification process that many international institutions now require.

Education sector analysts have described the initiative as a crucial step towards modernising Pakistan’s higher education infrastructure, though they note that successful implementation will depend on adequate technical support and user guidance for both institutions and graduates.