HEC – BOL News Staging

Pakistan Prepares for AI future with policy and startup investment

July 25, 2025 by Sana Fatima

Pakistan is on the edge of a major tech transformation as it prepares to roll out its first-ever national Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy. After nearly a year of consultation with local and international experts, the policy is finally ready—and it promises to reshape how the country uses emerging technologies in every aspect of life. Federal … Read more

Study in Iraq: HEC Announces Scholarship Program 2025 for Pakistanis

July 23, 2025 by Nimra Sohail

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has announced a new scholarship opportunity under the “Study in Iraq” program for the 2025–26 academic year. This program is offered by Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Pakistani students interested in pursuing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The scholarship includes full, partial, and self-financed options … Read more

Ahsan for effective implementation of ‘Quality Assurance Framework’ to improve higher education standards

January 8, 2025 by Abid Khan

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for the effective implementation of the ‘Quality Assurance Framework,’ developed in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the British Council in 2023, to improve the standards of higher education in the country.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Pakistani-American Professor Mudassar Wyne, who called on him and discussed matters related to quality assurance and the improvement of education standards, according to a news release.

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the Member of the Planning Commission for Science & Technology also attended the meeting.

Prof Mudassar Wyne, a quality assurance expert in California who holds a PhD in Computer Science, highlighted the principles of quality assurance recognized by the American Board of Engineering and Technology.

Ahsan Iqbal appreciated the contribution of Pakistani experts residing abroad to national development under the “Uraan Pakistan” program.

He proposed forming a “Premier League Group” consisting of the top 10 universities to transform Pakistani universities in line with global standards, which would establish linkages with leading universities worldwide.

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FIA warns of cybercriminals targeting WhatsApp accounts

December 13, 2024 by Abid Khan

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Circle has alerted the general public that WhatsApp accounts could be hacked on the pretext of degree verification.

It has been revealed that citizens’ WhatsApp has been hacked by cybercriminals posing as a representative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The FIA Cyber Crime Circle has issued a warning to citizens saying that some criminal elements are contacting users on WhatsApp by pretending to be representatives of the HEC.

According to FIA officials, these persons send a code to the users on the pretext of degree verification and ask them to share it, and as soon as the users share the code, their WhatsApp account is hacked.

FIA has directed citizens not to share any code on any unknown message or call and inform FIA Cyber Wing on receiving such call or message.

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KU Syndicate approves construction of building for HEC

August 31, 2024 by Abid Khan

KARACHI: Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi chaired the KU Syndicate meeting held at the VC Conference Hall on Saturday.

The members in principle approved the request of the provincial Higher Education Commission to allow them to construct a Sindh HEC Building on the KU Land.

A committee was formed which will be headed by Engineer Memon Abdul Jabbar and comprised of Prof Dr Solaha Rahman, Shaibzada Moazzam Qureshi, and a nominee of the provincial government. They would submit their recommendations about the SHEC request.

During the meeting, it was clearly mentioned that the proposed building would not be used for a commercial purpose and that the allocated land would always belong to the University of Karachi as and when the SHEC leaves the building, it would be managed and governed by the KU administration.

The SHEC through its letter has requested the allocation of two acres of land for the construction of the SHEC building.

The KU Syndicate also decided to remove two faculty members, Rabia Najam and Ommair Ishaque, both lecturers at the department of physics, from the services in the light of the inquiry reports submitted separately by the inquiry officers.

The members also approved the recommendations of the KU UFM Committee which has proposed a cancellation of the degree and enrollment cards of the candidate(s) who were found in unethical and immoral acts.

The KU Syndicate approved the revised policy on protection against harassment in the higher education institutions of the Higher Education Commission Islamabad.

The members also agreed in principle to constitute a Dr Jamil Jalbi Chair, according to the rules and regulations already defined by the KU Syndicate. Dr Jamil had served as the eighth vice chancellor of the University of Karachi.

The members also approved in principle the document submitted to enhance/increase the revenue for the campus on which KU VC Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi shared that he would send this document to the Finance and Planning Committee for discussion, preparation of working papers for the implementations of the proposed proposals in the documents.

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PM extends HEC Chairman tenue by one-year

August 7, 2024 by Abid Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has extended the tenure of Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Mukhtar Ahmed by one year.

A notification has also been issued to extend the tenure of Chairman HEC Mukhtar Ahmed.

According to the notification, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed will hold the post of Chairman HEC till August 1, 2025.

It should be noted that Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed assumed the post of Chairman Higher Education Commission in July 2022.

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IHC stops action against DG NADRA

August 2, 2024 by Abid Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday suspended the decision of the National Database Regulatory Authority (NADRA) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) related to the non-verification of the degree of Director General (DG) NADRA.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of IHC heard the case. It may be mentioned here that the HEC had blacklisted the account of Nadra’s DG for degree verification.

The court stopped the two institutions from taking any legal action against the petitioner while suspending their orders. The court adjourned further hearing of the case till October 1.

It may be mentioned here that the NADRA had included its DG in the pool over the non-verification of his degree.

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HEC offers scholarships for Engineering & IT in Romania: Check Details!

April 4, 2024 by Syed Shahbaz Hyder

HEC has announced a scholarship for Pakistani and AJ&K nationals to study in Romania. Interested students can apply online through the HEC portal, with a deadline of May 3, 2024. For detailed instructions and requirements, applicants should visit the provided link. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has unveiled an exciting scholarship opportunity for Pakistani and … Read more

GC University announces latest updates for Inter Admissions 2024

April 4, 2024 by Syed Shahbaz Hyder

Government College University Lahore has changed its admissions process for intermediate classes. HEC has instructed public colleges to expedite admissions for intermediate classes after matriculation results. Government College University Lahore will start the admissions process soon, following HEC’s guidelines. Government College University Lahore has made a significant change in its admissions process for intermediate classes … Read more

HEC Pakistan Announces 14 Job Vacancies; Apply Now!

March 3, 2024 by Nimra Sohail

HEC Pakistan is currently seeking candidates for 14 job openings, which include roles such as Project Director, Accounts Manager, and Data Entry Operator. Interested applicants are required to submit their applications online through the HEC website. For non-local candidates, tests and interviews will be conducted via Audio/Video conferencing. A processing fee is applicable for all … Read more

SHU organises ‘Intel Conference on Trends in Biomedical Engineering’

March 1, 2024 by Abid Khan

KARACHI: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Salim Habib University (SHU) organised 1st International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (ICETBEST) 2024.

Chief Guest Prof. Dr. S. M. Tariq Rafi (TI), Chairman Sindh HEC, who was welcomed by Vice Chancellor SHU Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Executive Director Education Dr Hussain Habib, COO Muhammad Abbas, and BoG member Tariq Amin, addressed the audience, talking about the life-saving wonders of Biomedical Engineering and SHU’s incredible contributions in it.

Addressing the conference, Prof Dr Tariq Rafi said that the field of biomedical engineering has always been neglected in Pakistan. This field is very important in the field of medicine. He said biomedical engineering is now being given importance in the country and HEC is also playing his role in it.

Biomedical engineering projects developed by the students were also showcased at the conference, in which the students built an innovative machine to monitor the electrical impulses of the heart and detect any abnormalities. While the students also developed such a machine for the use of a person in physiotherapy, for which there is no need to go to any hospital .

Dean Biomedical Engineering SHU Prof Dr M Zeeshan Ul Haque also highlighted the work the University and its students are doing towards advancements in healthcare and engineering.

The event also included a panel discussion featuring Vice Chancellors Prof Dr Tariq Rahim Soomro, Prof Dr Saeed Quraishy, Prof Dr Johar Ali, Prof Dr Vali Uddin, and Prof Dr Zubair A. Sheikh, and Keynote Sessions by Prof Dr Syed Athar Enam and Prof Dr Farhan Essa.

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KU conference highlights problems in Pakistani political culture

February 20, 2024 by Abid Khan

KARACHI: Everyone is aware of the problems of the Pakistani political system and culture, and there is a need for civil society to come forward and help the government in making a comprehensive policy on the country’s problems. The universities should also engage in this process to get better results.

Pakistan is a multicultural economy with a lot of diversity but unfortunately, we are not rectifying our old mistakes and this is one of the major causes of our problems. Our political system is weak because our social system has not been strengthened during the last seven decades and we also lack in maintaining social and moral values. We can overcome these problems by filling the deficiency with devotion and dedication.

These views were expressed by the Chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission Prof Dr S.M. Tariq Rafi (TI) during the inaugural session of the first day of the two-day-long international conference on the transformation of ideas in Pakistan’s political culture.

The event was jointly organized by the Department of Political Science of the University of Karachi and the Institute of Business Management at the KU Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium.

He said that universities are hubs of enhancing the skills, learning process, and mindsets of youngsters and they, directly and indirectly, learn a lot from their faculty members, that’s why it is very important that our teachers should make themselves available to students to listen to their problems and try their best to solve it, besides teaching them in a best possible way.

Chairman Sindh HEC Prof Dr Tariq Rafi, who was the chief guest of the conference, expressed that our universities should also initiate intra-province exchange programs for the students so that they can learn from the experiences of students and faculty of other provinces as well.

He shared that it was good to see that a leading public-sector university and a prominent private-sector university have joined hands and shared information among the masses.

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Updated HEC Degree Attestation Charges in Pakistan for February 2024

February 17, 2024 by Ariba Tanveer

HEC Mandates Online Degree Attestation for Overseas Education and Employment. To streamline the process for Pakistani citizens planning to study or work abroad, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has introduced an online system for degree attestation. Applicants can now easily apply for attestation via the HEC website link: https://eservices.hec.gov.pk. Upon completing the online application, applicants … Read more

IP Rights big issue in academia and research: Tariq Rafi

January 3, 2024 by Abid Khan

KARACHI: Chairman of Sindh Higher Education Commission(SHEC) Prof Dr S. M. Tariq Rafi said provincial HEC is taking steps to bring academia and the business community closer so that our universities do not lose talent and their products can be safeguarded through IP Rights.

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization of the University of Karachi organized a two-day long workshop for the faculty capacity building on IP Rights at the KU Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium.

The chief guest of the inaugural session of the first day of the workshop, the Chairman of Sindh Higher Education Commission, Professor Dr S. M. Tariq Rafi during his address mentioned that he believes this workshop would help create awareness among the faculty members and scholars that Intellectual Property (IP) Rights will give legal protection to research work of our teachers, scholars, and researchers. He asked them to learn more about IP Rights, its responsibilities, prospects, and challenges in detail.

Chairman Sindh HEC Prof Dr Tariq Rafi shared that unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the countries where copyrights are not followed according to international standards, and IP Rights are a big issue in academia and research.

“We are providing all possible support to teachers and researchers to carry out their research and register creative works under IP Rights. There is a need to further legislate on it.”

He informed the audience that the country is producing the best IT experts but still, we are lagging in the IT industry and export at the global level and one of the major reasons is that we have a huge gap between academia and industries.

Meanwhile, the KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the KU is one of the universities which have taken field experts on boards at the department level and making necessary changes in their curriculum after getting inputs from the relevant industry.

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HEC halts University of Lakki Marwat admission announcements

December 12, 2023 by Muhammad Zubair

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Pakistan has imposed a comprehensive ban on the University of Lakki Marwat, prohibiting the institution from announcing new admissions and affiliating with colleges and other institutions. The decision stems from a recent inspection revealing severe irregularities, blatant violations, and a failure to adhere to HEC guidelines. In a notification, … Read more

CJP writes letter to President, HEC on mismanagement of Islamic University

November 21, 2023 by Abid Khan

A copy of letter also sent sent to Chief Justice of Shariat Court.
International Islamic University lost international standards.
Board of trustees meeting should review administrative issues.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has written a letter to the President, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Federal Ministry of Education regarding the mismanagement of International Islamic University Islamabad.

A copy of the letter written by the Chief Justice of Pakistan has also been sent to the Chief Justice of the Shariat Court and the university administration.

In the letter written by the Chief Justice to the President, Chairman HEC, and the Federal Ministry of Education, it is said that the International Islamic University has lost international standards due to mismanagement. Due to years of mismanagement, Islamic values have also disappeared in the International Islamic University.

In the letter of the Chief Justice, it is said that after 3 years after my request, the President of the State asked to call a meeting of the board members on November 30. The letters are still not answered, the non-response to the letters shows that the Vice President wants to cover up the wrongdoings.

The Chief Justice further wrote in the letter that the appointment of Nabi Bux Jumani was for 3 years but he is still in office.

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PM for promotion of higher education in accordance with economic needs

November 14, 2023 by Abid Khan

He further stressed for introduction of scholarships in scientific subjects.
Prime Minister chaired meeting regarding Higher Education Commission.
More than 20,000 scholarships awarded for PhD since inception of HEC.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar underlined the need of bringing the higher education in the country in conformity with the contemporary and economic needs.

He further stressed for introduction of scholarships in technical and scientific subjects in accordance with the global requirements.

The prime minister chaired a meeting regarding the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi and HEC Chairman Dr Mukthar Ahmed.

The prime minister was briefed about the higher education, students’ scholarships, universities, and other related issues.

He was apprised that a total of 259 higher education institutes in the country were recognized by the HEC whereas in the previous years, the number of universities of global standards had increased in Pakistan.

So far, more than 20,000 scholarships had been awarded for PhD since the inception of HEC, it was added.

The meeting was also informed about the formulated mechanism to control plagiarism in the educational sector.

The caretaker prime minister was also given a briefing about the national and international scholarships.

The prime minister directed for submission of a complete report regarding the outcome of government-funded scholarships, besides asked for removal of hurdles faced by the Pakistani students, studying abroad, in getting the release of scholarships.

He observed that for promotion of human and technical resources, they would have to extend facility of stipends in the science and engineering subjects.

Caretaker prime minister was also given a briefing on the formulated strategy between the academia and the industry for a joint collaboration

He directed the relevant authorities to chalk out a mechanism for getting funding from the IT (information technology) and pharmaceutical industries for carrying out research.

He also asked for holding of a joint meeting of all the provincial authorities to resolve the issues related to education.

Provision of international standard education was critical for the country’s development, he stressed and directed for training programmes for the skilled manpower in the country, particularly for nurses.

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Federal Govt, HEC launching standardized test for IT graduates

October 26, 2023 by Abid Khan

The successful candidates will be given jobs after internship.
Umar Saif said there are 19,000 IT companies in Pakistan.
He said that there is a trend of freelancing in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Technology(IT) Dr. Umar Saif has said the federal government is starting a standardized test for IT graduates in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission(HEC) from December 2023 and successful candidates will be given jobs after the internship.

Addressing a press conference, the Caretaker Federal Minister for IT said that steps are being taken to promote the IT sector. He said many foreign IT companies will come to Pakistan and investment is being promoted under the Special Investment Council(SIC).

Dr. Umar Saif said that in our IT industries, there are companies that get contracts for making software. He said there are about 19,000 IT companies in Pakistan with 150, 000 people who can run an IT software company sitting in a room.

He said that IT exports will be boosted by government initiatives and the government’s goal is to grow private companies. He said IT companies want to give big contracts and among those who will be trained a developer’s income will be $50,000 to %60,000 per year.

He said that there is a trend of freelancing in Pakistan and it has the second largest online working force in the world. He said 1.5 million people are working on freelancing in Pakistan and youth have earned Rs 8.5 billion from e-employment centers.

Dr. Umar Saif further said that the government will provide facilities for freelancing and

the government will not set up any factory for freelancing facility. He said “If we provide facilities to the educated youth, then they will be able to easily earn $30 a day instead of $5.

The caretaker federal minister IT said that the international money transfer companies have been discussed to include Pakistan as well. He hoped that the international money transfer companies would soon include Pakistan because they are also benefiting from it.

He said that IT companies have been allowed to keep 50% of revenue in dollars and they are starting a standardized test for IT graduates in collaboration with HEC. He said the government is going to start a test for IT graduates in December this year and successful candidates will be given the job after the internship.

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