The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has formally introduced a financial incentive package for universities aimed at improving, accelerating and fully digitising the degree attestation process under its newly launched online and paperless system.
In a letter addressed to heads of universities across the country, HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar stated that institutions completing verification of documents within 24 hours would receive Rs500 per document, while universities responding within 48 hours would be paid Rs300 per document. Verification completed within 72 hours or beyond would carry a payment of Rs100 per document.
However, the letter does not specify what action the HEC would take against universities that fail to verify documents due to negligence, administrative delays or other reasons. Under the revised mechanism, the attestation fee has also been increased substantially, with the per-document fee raised from Rs1,000 to Rs3,000.
According to the HEC chairman, the new online degree attestation system has now become operational nationwide. Under the new arrangement, applicants can submit attestation requests online round the clock, while e-attestation certificates will also be issued digitally and can be verified online.
The new system, he said, had been introduced to make the attestation process secure, transparent, efficient and user-friendly. Applicants would no longer be required to physically visit HEC offices or send original academic documents through courier services.
Speaking to Jang/The News, Dr Akhtar acknowledged that the attestation fee had been increased but he maintained that part of the amount would be transferred to the universities concerned for document verification services.
He argued that the revised fee structure would ultimately benefit students, particularly those travelling from remote areas. “Previously, applicants had to travel to HEC offices along with family members, spending thousands of rupees on transport and accommodation. They also had to bear separate costs for photocopies and university verification before approaching HEC,” he said.
“Now, the entire process is being completed within Rs3,000 under a fully online system, and a portion of this fee also goes to the relevant university. In that context, I believe this is a reasonable fee structure that benefits students,” the HEC chairman added.
