Sindh Government Inaction Delays Karachi Intermediate Exams – Thousands Affected

The academic future of nearly 100,000 students in Karachi hangs in the balance as the Sindh government’s inefficiency and lack of urgency threaten to disrupt the upcoming Intermediate Part I and II exams, scheduled to begin on April 28. With only 13 days left, critical decisions—such as appointing a Board Chairman, releasing exam schedules, and granting grace marks—remain unresolved, leaving students and parents in distress.

Key Issues Affecting Karachi’s Intermediate Students

1. No Chairman Appointed for Karachi Intermediate Board

• The Karachi Intermediate Board has been without a Chairman for nearly two weeks.

• Former Acting Chairman Prof. Sharaf Ali Shah was relieved of his duties, but his replacement has not taken charge.

• Faqir Lakho, the expected appointee, has yet to assume office due to government hesitation.

Impact of No Chairman

• Exam schedules cannot be finalized

• Exam center lists remain unpublished

• Administrative decisions are stalled

2. Unresolved Grace Marks for Intermediate Part I Students

• A Sindh Assembly committee recommended granting up to 20% grace marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for Part I students.

• The Sindh Education Minister and committee members confirmed this decision in a March 25 press conference.

• However, the Universities and Boards Department has yet to issue a formal notification.

Consequences of Delay

Students unsure if they must retake failed Part I subjects before appearing for Part II exams
Mark sheets cannot be updated in time
Administrative backlog if grace marks are approved last-minute

3. Exam Schedule and Center List Still Unreleased

• With less than two weeks left, students have no information on:

  • Exam dates for each subject

  • Assigned exam centers

• The Acting Controller of Examinations, Zarina Chaudhry, confirmed that without the Chairman’s approval, no official announcements can be made.

Timeline of Events Leading to the Crisis

Why the Delay? Government’s Lack of Seriousness.

• Bureaucratic red tape in approving the new Chairman

• Failure to process the grace marks summary for the Chief Minister’s approval

• No urgency shown by the Universities and Boards Department

Quotes from Officials

“Our preparation is complete, but the Chairman is our administrative head. Without their approval, we cannot release the exam schedule or inform students of their exam centers.”
— Zarina Chaudhry, Acting Controller of Examinations

No response was received from Abbas Baloch, Secretary of the Universities and Boards Department, when contacted.

Possible Solutions to Mitigate the Crisis

1. Immediate Appointment of Board Chairman – The Sindh government must fast-track the appointment to avoid further delays.

2. Official Notification on Grace Marks – The Chief Minister’s approval should be expedited to provide clarity to students.

3. Emergency Meeting with Education Stakeholders – The Board must urgently finalize exam schedules and center lists.

4. Public Awareness Campaign – Students should be updated via SMS, emails, and media once decisions are made.

The Sindh government’s sluggishness has created an unnecessary crisis for 100,000 students in Karachi. With exams just days away, the lack of a Board Chairman, unreleased grace marks, and pending exam schedules reflect gross negligence. Immediate action is needed to prevent long-term academic damage to these students.