Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) have agreed to integrate their databases, aiming to make the attestation of educational documents faster, simpler and more transparent.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on Monday.
Under the agreement, the two bodies will connect their records so that educational credentials can be checked electronically instead of being passed between offices on paper. Officials say this should shorten processing times and tighten the verification of academic documents, a step that has long been a source of delay and complaint for applicants.
The government also expects the move to reduce the need for people to appear in person. Digital certificates and online services will handle most cases, which should ease the process for overseas Pakistanis. They often have to rely on relatives or intermediaries to complete attestation formalities on their behalf.
Dar said improving consular services has been a personal priority. He pointed to the introduction of Pakistan’s Apostille system in 2024 as an earlier step towards making attestation more accessible, efficient and convenient for Pakistanis at home and abroad.
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He described the new database integration as a continuation of that effort, and he thanked the institutions involved. Besides MoFA and the HEC, he credited the Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) for their work in advancing the project.
The reform matters because attestation of degrees and certificates is a routine requirement for Pakistanis seeking jobs, admissions or residency abroad. Foreign authorities also rely on it to verify documents issued in Pakistan.
Streamlining the process through shared digital records could ease the burden on a large number of applicants. The government has not yet said when the integrated system will go live.
Dar said, “Improving consular services has been a personal priority.”
