Matric exams begin amid last-minute rush

The first annual exams for ninth and tenth grades under the Karachi Secondary Education Board will begin today (on Friday), across 520 centres, with over 380,000 students expected to take part. On the eve of the exams, many students were seen visiting the board office to collect admit cards, resolve registration issues, or submit pending forms. Some students who had transferred from private to public schools faced discrepancies in their academic records, while others reported difficulties downloading admit cards from the board's website. Chairman of the Matric Board, Ghulam Hussain Soho, said that admit cards were issued on time. Students with technical or other issues were assisted on the spot, and their forms were accepted even on the last day. To ensure smooth distribution of exam papers, 25 hubs have been set up across 18 towns. Authorities, including the Karachi Commissioner, DG Rangers, Additional IG, and Directors of Education and Private Schools, have issued orders under Section 144 to prevent external interference at exam centres. Photocopy machines near centres will remain closed during exams to curb cheating.