HEC’s new requirement for passports leaves thousands of returning Afghan students in uncertainty
PESHAWAR:
Afghan students returning home are facing serious challenges in getting their educational degrees verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The students say that before the government’s decision on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, they were admitted to Pakistani universities using Proof of Registration (PoR) and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) documents. However, these same documents are now being rejected for degree verification.
According to the affected students, when they approach HEC for verification, they are told that degrees based on PoR and ACC cards are no longer being attested. Verification is now only possible with a passport.
The students explained that they completed their education at various colleges and universities across Pakistan, including the University of Peshawar, based on PoR and ACC cards. Admissions were granted, exams conducted, and HEC-issued degrees were awarded, yet the same documents are now considered invalid.
Read More: K-P MPAs call for return of stranded students
The situation has become more critical as the federal government encourages Afghan citizens to return to Afghanistan. Without HEC attestation, these students’ educational qualifications are rendered unusable in Afghanistan and other countries.
Most affected students do not possess Afghan passports because they have spent their entire educational lives in Pakistan under PoR and ACC cards. The new passport requirement has limited their opportunities for further education, employment, and future prospects.
The students have urged HEC and the government of Pakistan to review the policy and allow degree verification based on the same documents on which they were admitted and awarded degrees, ensuring that thousands of educated young Afghans are not left facing an uncertain future.
