The Higher Education Commission (HEC) recently published a comprehensive list of 157 educational institutions operating illegally and without proper registration across Pakistan. Specifically, 31 universities and colleges in Lahore were identified as unrecognized. The HEC issued a strong warning to prospective students, advising them against enrolling in degree programs offered by these unapproved institutions.
The list includes various fake, illegal, and unlawful institutions scattered across Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federal Capital. These institutions lack authorization from the HEC, rendering their degrees and qualifications invalid and ineligible for recognition. Students are urged to exercise extreme caution and verify the status of any educational institution before seeking admission. Genuine educational institutions are those chartered and listed on the HEC’s official website. Enrolling in unrecognized institutions could lead to wasting time and money on degrees that hold no value in the job market or for further studies.
Here is a summarized list of some of the fake, illegal, and unrecognized institutions in different regions:
Punjab:
- All Affiliated Colleges with Global Institute, Lahore
- American International University, 7 up Chowk, Gulberg III, Lahore
- Standard Institute of Emerging Technologies & Sciences (SIETS), 225-A-new Muslim Town, Lahore
- Lahore University of Computer Excellence, New Garden Town, Lahore
- Arqum College of Science & Arts, Court Road, Gujranwala
Sindh:
- Glamshire University, Karachi
- American University of Hawaii, Karachi
- University of Southern, Comit Campus, St 6B, Block-14 Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK):
- All other campuses/affiliated colleges of Al-Khair University AJK except Bhimber
- Institute of Advance Studies of Information Technology, Dadyal
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
- Agha Computers, Al-Noor Esquire, PICIC Bank Building, Mansehra Road, Abbottabad
- Flash Institute of Computer Studies, Sheikh Jee Plaza, Industrial Estate, Jamrud Road, Peshawar
Federal Capital:
- Islamabad Law College, Islamabad
- Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts, Islamabad
The HEC’s efforts to eliminate illegal institutions and protect students’ interests are commendable and essential for fostering a robust higher education system in Pakistan.
