No. SO(SI&C)Attendance Sys/2025
16-May-2025
Higher Education Department, Government Of The Punjab
Punjab HED Issues Alert: Facial Attendance App Not Yet Official – No Staff Registration Allowed:
The Government of Punjab’s Higher Education Department (HED) has issued an important notification dated 16th May 2025, clarifying the current status of the facial recognition attendance system being developed for public sector colleges.
According to the HED, while an official application is being developed with advanced security features by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), the app has not yet been launched. However, it has come to the department’s attention that some colleges have prematurely installed unauthorized third-party apps and even started registering teaching staff without official approval.
To avoid any data privacy risks and confusion, HED has now ordered an immediate stop to any facial attendance activity or app usage. Only orientation training is allowed at this stage.
Read the full official notification below for complete instructions and ensure strict compliance across all colleges.
No. SO(SI&C)Attendance Sys/2025
GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Dated: Lahore; the May 16, 2025
To
Dr. Syed Ansar Azhar,
DPI (Colleges), Lahore.
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF FACIAL ATTENDANCE SYSTEM IN PUBLIC SECTOR COLLEGES
I am directed to refer to the subject cited above and state that the Higher Education Department is in the process of development of an application for online facial attendance system in public sector colleges across the province. Security features of this application are being enhanced by the PITB team; hence it has yet not been released for installation and implementation. Accordingly, master trainers were required to give only “orientation training” to the principals and teaching staff of public sector colleges. Hence, the only action required at this point in time is “orientation” of all the relevant stakeholders.
2. It has been brought in to the notice of competent authority that some colleges have installed some unauthorized application and started registration process of the teaching staff, which is highly undesirable before ensuring data security features of the application.
3. Foregoing in view, I am further directed to communicate the following instructions of the competent authority for strict compliance forthwith:
i. The registration of teaching staff and marking of facial attendance (where started) to be stopped immediately. The unauthorized application to be uninstalled and data to be discarded in a safe and secure manner immediately.
ii. The Master Trainers to continue the orientation training of relevant stakeholders.
iii. Once application is ready to use, HED will notify it for usage and registration of the teaching staff. No registration to be done till clear instructions from HED. The above instructions be transmitted to all public sector colleges for strict compliance.
SECTION OFFICER (SI)
Only Orientation for Now – Wait for Official App Launch, Says HED Punjab:
This notification serves as a strong reminder from the Punjab Higher Education Department that data privacy and app security come first. While the government is actively working on launching a secure and standardized facial recognition attendance system, the app is still under development and has not been approved for use in colleges.
Principals, teachers, and IT staff are instructed to uninstall any unauthorized app immediately and discard any collected data safely. Only orientation training should be conducted until further notice.
The actual registration and use of the facial attendance system will be officially announced by HED once the app is ready and all security protocols are in place. Any college found bypassing these instructions might face disciplinary actions.
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