ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Friday asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to reduce the turnaround time in degree attestation.

The committee, which met under the Chairpersonship of MNA Nuzhat Sadiq, was of the view that the system of degree attestation in vogue was cumbersome besides inflicting financial burden on the students.

The committee while discussing implementation report of the assurance given by minister for education on floor of the house on issues in degree attestation observed that turnaround time from submission of degree attestation application and it’s completion should be minimised.

The HECchairman apprised the committee that in line with the digital transformation, comprehensive, robust and a secure blockchain system was being set up which will address the issues highlighted by the committee. He further apprised that the project would be implemented before June 30, 2026 linking HEC with initially 25 universities and Attestation Directorate of Foreign Office.

The committee also sought a joint presentation by HEC and Foreign Office on degree attestation.

The committee expressing its concern on the nonavailability of healthcare services in newly established housing societies in Islamabad decided to call registrar cooperative societies and CDA to discuss the issue.

The committee was of the view that the regulator of housing sector in Islamabad i.e. cooperative department and the CDA should make it mandatory for housing societies to provide for healthcare establishments in their master plans.

The committee was of the view that the scarce healthcare services in the capital were being overburdened due to nonavailibility of healthcare facilities.

The committee disposed of assurance regarding change in billing dates of electricity consumers accepting the justification given by the ministry of power. The committee was apprised that the reading of Meters was not humanly possible therefore the process was divided into phases. The issue will be resolved after installation of AMI meters.

The committee while discussing the implementation report of assurance given by Minister for Cabinet Secretariat regarding non-inclusion of newly introduced like business data analysis in the fee reimbursement scheme of Federal Employees Benevolent Fund, directed the Establishment Division to revise it’s rules and include all the professional degrees recognised by HEC and other respective accreditation councils.

The secretary Establishment assured that as per direction of the Committee the revelant rules would be amended to include newly introduced professional degrees in the reimbursement scheme.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2026