Thousands of graduates across Pakistan have received a major reprieve as the Higher Education Commission has begun degree verification for a backlog of pending cases following sustained intervention by the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education.
The breakthrough came after the committee, led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, held more than 15 detailed sessions to tackle legal and administrative bottlenecks that had stalled the attestation process for years. The matter gained additional momentum when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to treat the issue as a priority to protect students’ futures.
Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, chairman of the HEC, has instructed relevant departments to streamline procedures and begin clearing the backlog immediately, signalling the start of the long-awaited degree verification process. Officials say the aim is to simplify workflows so cases move faster and verification timelines become predictable.
Education stakeholders welcomed the development, noting that delayed degree verification had previously prevented access to scholarships, overseas admissions and government employment for many graduates. The resumption of verification work is expected to unlock these opportunities and reduce uncertainty for affected students.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt described the move as a significant win for students and reiterated the committee’s commitment to preventing bureaucratic delays from undermining educational and professional prospects. Observers credited the sustained Senate oversight and targeted directives for finally prompting action at the HEC level.
