Claim: The HEC issued a notification on 29 October 2026 declaring BTech and engineering technology degrees equivalent to conventional engineering degrees, alongside new DAE provisions.
Fact: The HEC denied issuing the notification and confirmed that the document circulating on social media is fake.
On 30 October 2026, Facebook user Sajid Iqbal Khan shared an image of a purported notification from Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC). The document claimed that BTech (Honours) and BSc Engineering Technology (Honours) degrees have been declared equivalent to Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and BSc Engineering degrees.
The accompanying Urdu caption presented the announcement as good news for engineering graduates. The attached notification claimed that the equivalence applied to further education, employment, and promotion. It also stated that Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE) holders would be considered to have 14 years of education and would be eligible for lateral entry into engineering degree programs, subject to university admission criteria.
Screenshot of Sajid Iqbal Khan’s Facebook post.
Fact or Fiction?
HEC denies issuing the notification
A Google search using keywords related to the purported notification led to several news reports published on 30 October 2026, stating that HEC had declared the document fake. According to an Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) report, the HEC clarified that it had not issued the notification, dated 29 October concerning the equivalence of engineering degrees and diplomas.
The official LinkedIn feed of HEC chairperson Niaz Ahmad Akhtar also carried a warning describing the circulating notification as “FAKE and NOT issued by HEC”.
Screenshot of HEC Chairman’s LinkedIn post.
The HEC advised students, graduates, and other stakeholders not to rely on or circulate the document, instead it urged them to consult the commission’s official website and verified social media accounts for authentic information. The denial was also reported by ProPakistani and Pakistan Observer on 30 October.
The clarification confirms that the purported notification announcing the engineering degree and DAE equivalence provisions was not issued by the HEC. Thus, it cannot be treated as an official announcement of the claimed changes to degree equivalence, DAE qualifications, or admission provisions.
What do official equivalence and registration rules say?
Soch Fact Check also reviewed the published information on the HEC’s website concerning degree equivalence. According to the commission’s official guidance on the equivalence of Pakistani degrees, applicants seeking recognition of their qualifications must submit the required documents through the commission’s online system.
The commission states that equivalence applications are assessed against the applicable policy, and successful applicants receive a system-generated equivalence letter. Its frequently asked questions further explain that equivalence is determined on an individual basis, subject to the relevant requirements.
Importantly, the HEC also clarifies that issuing an equivalence certificate does not, by itself, determine a candidate’s eligibility for employment or admission to a higher education program.
The Pakistan Engineering Council’s (PEC) official FAQs also address the status of BTech qualifications for professional engineering registration. In response to a question about whether PEC registers BTech graduates, the council states:
“The qualification of B.Tech is not equivalent to Bachelor of engineering.”
The PEC further explains that it registers graduates holding engineering qualifications accredited by the council. This is an important distinction. A qualification’s academic recognition does not automatically establish eligibility for professional registration as an engineer.
Separately, the National Technology Council has its own registration framework for eligible engineering technology graduates, who may register as graduate engineering technologists, subject to the applicable requirements. These sources show that engineering technology and conventional engineering qualifications operate within distinct professional registration frameworks.
The purported notification also claims that DAE qualifications are equivalent to 14 years of education and that diploma holders can seek lateral entry into engineering degree programs.
Virality
Soch Fact Check identified approximately 21 distinct Facebook posts circulating the purported HEC notification, including posts shared by individual users and in Facebook groups.
Conclusion: The HEC did not issue a notification declaring BTech and engineering technology degrees equivalent to conventional engineering degrees, alongside new DAE provisions.The claim is false.
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