ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has suspended the verification of matriculation and intermediate certificates across Pakistan amid threats of a cyberattack.
The decision comes following an advisory from the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) regarding potential threats.
According to the IBCC, the process for verification and issuance of equivalence for O and A Level has also been temporarily suspended. Other online verification services have also been disabled as a precautionary measure.
The suspension has brought difficulties for thousands of students across the country, who require verification of matric and intermediate certificates or equivalence for O and A Levels.
Officials said that manual verification and equivalence processes had already been discontinued, making it impossible to revert to the old system.
Meanwhile, the IBCC has restricted its verification and equivalence portal to “read-only mode.” Only previously registered users can log in to view the status of their cases, while no new applications were being accepted.
According to media reports, the advisory from CERT was issued last week following cyberattacks targeting the transmission of several Pakistani TV channels and government institutions.
IBCC Executive Director
IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah said the portal is being restored for users within Pakistan, while overseas users will continue to have access only in ‘read-only mode’ for the time being.
