PBC cracks down on online foreign LLBs, orders supervised exams in Pakistan

In a “Most Immediate” directive dated September 9, 2026, the Directorate of Legal Education of the PBC informed principals of law colleges and

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has tightened regulations governing foreign law degree programmes in Pakistan, prohibiting assignment-based online LLB programmes and directing law colleges and teaching centres to ensure that examinations are conducted through approved testing bodies.

In a “Most Immediate” directive dated September 9, 2026, the Directorate of Legal Education of the PBC informed principals of law colleges and institutions offering foreign LLB programmes that strict compliance with the revised legal education requirements would be mandatory.

The directive follows the Council’s concerns over foreign universities and external law institutes conducting assignment-based law programmes in Pakistan without adequate mechanisms to ensure examination integrity and academic standards.

Under an amendment to Rule 37(xii) of the Legal Education Rules, 2015, recognized teaching centres are required to provide complete details of their examination systems, including information about who conducts examinations and the agreements made with the British Council or another international agency accredited by the Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC).

The PBC has specifically identified the British Council and International Testing Service (ITS) as approved agencies for conducting examinations for foreign LLB programmes, with the directive also referring to an IBCC notification concerning ITS.

The Council has warned law colleges and foreign LLB teaching centres that failure to comply with the requirements could result in penal action.

The move is aimed at strengthening oversight of foreign legal education programmes and ensuring that students obtain degrees through credible and properly supervised assessment mechanisms rather than relying solely on assignment-based evaluation.

A senior legal education source told Minute Mirror that the central concern was maintaining the credibility of law degrees and ensuring that students enrolled in foreign programmes undergo transparent and verifiable examinations.

The directive could have a significant impact on students enrolled in foreign LLB programmes through local teaching centres, particularly those relying on online or assignment-based assessment arrangements. Institutions offering such programmes will now have to review their examination mechanisms and ensure compliance with the PBC’s revised requirements.

The Council has also circulated the directive to the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Chairman of the PBC Legal Education Committee and Executive Director of the IBCC for information and necessary action.

The latest move represents a further attempt by the country’s legal education regulator to standardise foreign law programmes operating in Pakistan and strengthen safeguards around examination procedures.

Students currently enrolled in foreign LLB programmes have been advised to confirm with their institutions whether their examination arrangements comply with the new requirements before proceeding with their studies.

The PBC has made it clear that violations of the amended rules could trigger penal consequences for the institutions concerned, putting law colleges and foreign programme providers under increased regulatory scrutiny.