The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has directed the Higher Education Commission to stop recognising graduation and post-graduation degrees obtained from Afghan educational institutions for employment in any federal or provincial body across Pakistan. The directive, contained in a notification dated August 27, 2026, takes immediate effect.

What the notification says

The letter, signed by Federal Secretary Nadeem Mahbub and addressed to the HEC chairman, states that the federal government has decided that no degree: whether undergraduate or postgraduate: earned from an Afghan institution will be recognised by HEC. Consequently, such degrees will not be considered valid for job-seeking or employment in federal or provincial government organisations throughout Pakistan.

The notification, bearing file number F.No. 1(18)/2025-Policy, was also forwarded to the chief commissioner of the Islamabad Capital Territory, the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the chief secretaries of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and the education secretaries of all provinces. The ministry instructed these authorities to disseminate the directive among public and private-sector stakeholders and ensure compliance.

Who is affected and the exemption window

The ban applies to all future degrees from Afghanistan. However, individuals who completed post-graduate degrees in Afghanistan before the notification may still seek recognition through a formal HEC equivalence process.

The ministry has directed HEC to formulate a testing mechanism for such cases and submit it to the ministry by mid-September 2026. Those who pass the prescribed test and subsequent equivalence assessment will receive an official equivalence certificate.

Steps for existing degree holders

  • Submit an application for an equivalence certificate to HEC before November 6, 2026. The notification describes this date as the “absolute last date”.
  • Undergo a prescribed test once HEC announces the testing mechanism (due by mid-September 2026).
  • Complete an equivalence assessment that determines whether the foreign qualification corresponds to a Pakistani qualification.
  • Receive an official equivalence certificate upon successful completion of tests and assessments.

No applications will be accepted after the November 6 deadline.

What remains unclear

The notification has not been published on the Ministry of Federal Education website as of August 29, 2026, so the full text of the directive is not yet publicly accessible. It is also not specified whether the ban applies to private-sector employers or only to federal and provincial government bodies. The specific subjects or format of the prescribed test have not been detailed, and it is unclear how existing degree holders who have already had their Afghan degrees attested by HEC in prior years will be treated.