The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has directed all universities in the province, including Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Larkana, to ensure that academic credentials of faculty and staff are verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). This move aims to prevent the hiring of individuals with fake degrees.
The decision was made during a PAC meeting held on Monday, chaired by Nisar Khuhro. The committee examined audit reports for SMBBMU Larkana for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, as well as Dawood University of Engineering and Technology. During the session, the Director General Audit Sindh highlighted concerns about staff appointments made without prior verification of degrees from the HEC.
In response, SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Dr. Nusrat Shah clarified that medical degrees such as MBBS and BDS are verified through the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), while HEC verification is done when necessary. She also disclosed that one employee’s degree was found to be inauthentic during the verification process, leading to their termination.
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Following this, the PAC has now instructed all universities in Sindh to complete the HEC verification process for all academic and administrative staff within one month and submit a compliance report. Any staff member whose degree is found to be unverified must be immediately dismissed.
PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro emphasized that the hiring of individuals with forged qualifications will not be tolerated in any educational institution in the province.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including SMBBMU VC Dr. Nusrat Shah, Dawood Engineering University VC Dr. Samreen Hussain, and representatives from the audit department.
