Karachi, The Higher Secondary School Certificate part-I and II (class XI and XII) annual examinations-2011 for science, home economics and commerce (regular) groups would commence on May 16, Board of Intermediate Education Karachi chairman Prof Anwar Ahmed Zai said here on Friday.

The HSC annual examination for the commerce group (external candidates) and humanities group (both regular and external candidates) would be conducted in the second phase, scheduled to begin on May 21, he added.

Giving details of the first phase at a press conference along with controller of examinations Imran Chishti, Prof Zai said that more than 145,697 candidates — 83,800 in science group and 61,897 of commerce (regular) group — had been registered. Ninety examination centres had been set up at public and private colleges, he said.

The examinations for all science faculties — pre-engineering, pre-medical, science general (computer science), home economics and medical technology — would be held in the first shift (from 9.30am to 12.30pm) while the commerce (regular) group examinations would be conducted in the second shift (from 2.30pm to 5.30pm), the BIEK chief said.

He said that the process of issuing admit cards to regular candidates would begin on May 9. Admit cards of external candidates would be dispatched to their given address, he added.

About those candidates who have failed to submit their examination forms till the last date, Prof Zai said that the board, giving them a last chance, would accept their forms from May 9 to 12. No form would be accepted after May 12, he said.