Fake degrees: varsities given one month for HEC verification

The Sindh Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed all universities, including Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Larkana, to have the educational degrees of all faculty and staff verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in order to prevent recruitment based on fake degrees.

The committee meeting, chaired by Nisar Khuhro, was held on Monday. The PAC reviewed audit paras of SMBBMU Larkana for the fiscal years 2017 and 2018. Audit paras of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology were also reviewed.

During the session, Director General Audit Sindh raised an objection that appointments were made in the medical university without verifying degrees through HEC. In response, Dr Nusrat Shah informed the PAC that before appointments, degrees such as MBBS and BDS were verified through the PMDC and certificates of verification were issued accordingly. She added that HEC verification is also conducted when required.

Dr Nusrat Shah further stated that during the verification process, one employee's degree could not be verified, and that person was terminated from employment.

The PAC has ordered all universities across Sindh to verify the degrees of all faculty and staff through HEC within one month.

PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro instructed that all universities must submit a report to the PAC after verifying the degrees within the given time. Any faculty or employee whose degree is not verified must be terminated from service.

Nisar Khuhro emphasised that recruitment based on fake degrees will not be tolerated in Sindh's universities or any other institutions.

The meeting was attended by SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Dr Nusrat Shah, Dawood Engineering University VC Dr Samreen Hussain, and other officials.