The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced a stringent policy prohibiting the establishment of new universities and sub-campuses at the tehsil level without obtaining prior authorization. A formal communication has been sent to vice-chancellors and university heads, emphasizing that no new institution or sub-campus can be set up without the commission’s explicit permission and thorough evaluation.
The letter further clarified that any institution founded in violation of this policy will not receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC), accreditation, or degree verification from the HEC. It also highlighted significant concerns regarding the shortage of PhD-qualified faculty, low student enrollment, and limited academic programs offered at tehsil-level campuses.
In a decisive move, the HEC has suspended all pending applications for sub-campuses and imposed a complete ban on admissions and promotional activities for these institutions. The commission warned that any breach of the policy could lead to the cancellation of approvals for campuses and their academic programs. Universities have been instructed to enforce the new regulations rigorously.
Meanwhile, the HEC is preparing to launch a blockchain-based attestation system by June 30, developed in collaboration with CMPak and Wibbow Technologies. This innovative platform will enable students to submit and monitor degree verification requests online, replacing the traditional manual procedures with a secure digital process. The new system aims to expedite processing times and facilitate easier sharing of credentials for graduates globally by eliminating the need for physical paperwork and in-person visits.
