HEC Releases List of 94 Illegal and Fake Universities/Campuses in Punjab, Pakistan

Islamabad — The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has issued an updated list of fake, illegal, and unregistered universities, campuses, and degree-awarding institutions across the country to safeguard students from academic fraud.
According to the list, Punjab — the country’s largest province — tops the chart with 94 institutions and university campuses declared fake or unregistered. The breakdown for other regions is as follows:
Sindh: 35
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 12
Azad Kashmir: 4
Federal Charter: 2
The HEC has strongly advised students and parents to verify the status of any university or degree program through the commission’s official recognized lists before seeking admission. Degrees issued by these illegal institutions will not be recognized by the government or any public/private sector organizations.
Prominent examples from Punjab include all affiliated colleges of Global Institute, Lahore, various campuses of Heritage International Colleges (HICs), Quaid e Azam University of Pakistan, Lahore, Islamic University of Pakistan, Sialkot, and several other private institutes operating without proper authorization.
In an official statement, the HEC warned: “Students should not waste their precious time and money. Always choose only HEC-recognized institutions for higher education.”
The complete lists are available on the HEC’s official website (hec.gov.pk) under the section for Illegal/Fake Universities & Campuses. This move is part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to curb the growing menace of fake degree providers in the country.
Note for Students: Always cross-check on the official HEC portal before applying anywhere. Stay safe and protect your future!