Regulation can stop Axact-like scams

Much has been said and commented since the day Axact scandal emerged on media.
Experts, educationists and journalists all have given their analysis leading and focusing on one point agenda that this incident at such a huge scale was led to carry on and effect on so many people for so many years without being noticed.
All agree that Axact was issuing fake degrees operating both from Pakistan and abroad in projecting itself as a regional office or representative office for more than 100 universities. It claimed that it was quite legal in providing the services on behalf of the so many foreign universities absolving its self from any responsibility whatsoever. The Axact management categorically denied any involvement with the universities in question whatsoever on the status and recognition of the degrees and diplomas that were issued in any subject or profession it also took a stand that the business of foreign representation and providing services on behalf of the foreign institution is normal and hundreds of such companies are providing services to students which requires no special licence and is a normal business in Pakistan.
No agency in Pakistan whether from the education sector, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour & Manpower or Ministry of I.T took any responsibility but their representatives were in the frontline as experts and analyst appearing on talk shows making comments that never touched the real issue or the most important aspect that needed to be addressed if such incidents in the future are to be avoided.
Having worked as representative of a number of foreign universities and being one of the pioneers in this business since the early 1990’s, I was quite astonished to hear the comments and read the analysis of the experts in newspapers the fact is that this incident only occurred because of one reason no regulation, law or licencing for the business of foreign education, consultants or advisers.
A number of such incidents that brought defame to Pakistan, including crimes are all linked with us having a Constitution and regulation in the business of education consultancy today. Even in the case of mysterious murder of Imran Farooq, the two persons nominated by the investigation agencies, who plotted the killing of Imran Farooq, were sent to UK as students through an education consultant based in Karachi representing so-called LAMS College in the east of London. This company existed and operated as education consultant and recruited hundreds of students who did not aim at getting education and until the UKVI terminated the licence of said college under the tear for which prohibited them to recruit international students.
I was asked by the Director General FIA in the year 2007 to produce a report and give my comments on the pros and cons of the business of education consultancy, keeping in view my market integrity and my experience in this profession. The initiative was taken by the DG FIA when Pakistani students held overseas were found with fake documents and degrees issued either from Pakistan or from abroad whose admissions and visas were processed by dubious education consultants. The objective was to look at introducing a framework and proposing a regulation to licence the business of foreign education representation in Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that foreign education representation or service providers on behalf of the foreign educational insinuations are subjected to regulation and issuance of licence in all of the Middle East. This means that you cannot claim to represent, project, provide services or call yourself representative of foreign university until you have been issued a licence and No-objection Certificate (NoC) from the relevant ministry both Higher Education & Interior. This certifies you to be a legit representative and you have to provide details of the type of work that you will carry out on behalf of these universities. Had this regulation in place in Pakistan and this business of consultancy was not allowed without a proper licence no one including Axact would have floated and spoiled the careers of so many youths and looted billions of rupees by selling fake degrees. It is; therefore, a high time the government agencies, including Higher Education Commission (HEC) should recommend a proper regulation and monitoring framework for the business of education consultancy in Pakistan. Only those who fulfill a given and specific eligibility criteria and undertake to follow the code of ethics should be allowed to operate. The Ministry of Information and Ministry of Interior should monitor the advertising by education consultants and ensure that they understand the concept of responsible marketing within their business sector. If this is not done now in future incidents like this will reoccur.
(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is the recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).