ISLAMABAD, May 2: The Equivalence and Accreditation Committee of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to recognize the degrees granted by accredited universities running virtual/online distance education programmes.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the committee held recently under the chairmanship of HEC chairman Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman.

An HEC announcement said the recognition of the degrees would be subject to the condition that a university/institution was running on campus and distance education programmes.

During the meeting, Dr S. Sohail Naqvi, member (HRD), briefed the committee on the recommendations of a sub-committee constituted by the HEC.

The other members of the committee who attended the meeting included HEC executive director Dr S.M. Hassan, member (Operation) Dr A.Q. Mughal, Vice Chancellor’s Committee chairman and vice chancellor of AJ&K University Muzaffarabad Khalil Ahmed Qureshi, HEC director general (Admin) Naseeruddin, and HEC director (A&A) Mohammad Javed Khan.