How to Verify Pakistani University Degrees: HEC Guide

Pakistan's higher education system

Pakistan's higher education is regulated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Pakistan has over 200 recognized universities, including Quaid-i-Azam University, LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences), NUST (National University of Sciences and Technology), and Aga Khan University. HEC provides a crucial degree attestation service that verifies degree authenticity.

Verification steps

1. Check HEC recognition — Verify the institution is HEC-recognized. VerifyED includes HEC-recognized Pakistani institutions.
2. HEC degree attestation — HEC provides official degree attestation services. This is the gold standard for Pakistani credential verification.
3. Contact the institution — Pakistani universities maintain registrar offices for verification.
4. Document attestation chain — Documents need attestation from HEC, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Key considerations

• HEC attestation — HEC attestation is widely required and recognized. Unattested degrees may be questioned.
• English-language credentials — Most higher education credentials are issued in English.
• Large diaspora — Significant Pakistani diaspora creates ongoing verification demand, especially in the UK, US, and Gulf states.