Islamabad, September 5, 2026: The two-day 184th meeting of the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC) Forum concluded in Murree with a series of decisions aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s examination system, improving transparency and uniformity, and enhancing the international recognition of Pakistani qualifications.
The forum brought together chairpersons of Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education from across the country, technical education boards, and senior representatives of curriculum and textbook boards.
Welcoming the participants, IBCC Forum National Coordinator Inayatullah Waseem underlined the importance of active participation and collective ownership in examination reforms. He said the forum provided a national platform for boards to learn from one another, share successful practices and develop common solutions to challenges faced by the examination system.
He stressed that stronger coordination among boards and consistent implementation of agreed reforms were essential to ensure fairness, quality and public confidence in examinations across the country.
A major focus of the meeting was the implementation of the Prime Minister’s directives for standardising the examination system across Pakistan. The forum adopted measures to bring greater uniformity in assessment and examination practices, which, it noted, would also support the credibility and international recognition of Pakistani qualifications.
The forum was informed that Sindh examination boards, the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, AJK Board, KIU Board, Aga Khan Board and Ziauddin Board had implemented the new grading policy. Under the policy, the minimum passing marks have been increased to 40 per cent.
It was also decided that awareness sessions and workshops would be organised to facilitate implementation of the Revised Grading Formula across the country.
To improve transparency and reliability of student records, the forum agreed to include B-Form and CNIC numbers on SSC and HSSC certificates. The step is aimed at making academic records easier to identify, access and verify.
In another student-focused initiative, the forum agreed that IBCC would offer scholarships and overseas exposure opportunities to board toppers. It would also arrange winter and summer camps for high-achieving students to provide them broader learning, leadership and exposure opportunities.
The forum recommended 12 additional Deeni Madaris for equivalence of their qualifications with SSC and HSSC, taking the total number under the equivalence framework to 26.
In a decision aimed at facilitating students studying under foreign examination systems, the forum agreed that Science Group equivalence would be awarded to foreign-board students who had passed at least two science subjects. The decision is intended to provide greater flexibility in academic pathways.
The forum further agreed to develop a uniform calendar for theory and practical examinations. It also decided to formulate common guidelines and procedures for practical examinations to ensure greater consistency, fairness and transparency across examination boards.
During the meeting, BISE Kohat, BISE Quetta and FBISE presented their best practices, innovative initiatives and outcomes for possible adoption and replication by other boards.
Speaking on examination reforms, IBCC Executive Director Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah appreciated the Government of Punjab for merit-based appointment of chairpersons of examination boards. He observed that competent professional leadership was adding value to the IBCC Forum and strengthening the national effort to shift examinations from rote learning to conceptual assessment.
Dr Mallah also appreciated the Government of Sindh and the chairpersons of Sindh examination boards for implementing e-marking across the province, describing it as an important step towards greater transparency, efficiency and credibility in the examination system.
He said the reforms being pursued through the IBCC Forum were part of a broader national effort to develop an examination system that tests understanding rather than memory, rewards genuine learning, embraces technology and strengthens the national and international credibility of Pakistani qualifications.
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to stronger coordination among examination, technical, curriculum and textbook boards and to building a transparent, technology-enabled, student-friendly and internationally comparable assessment system across Pakistan.
The proceedings were conducted by IBCC Forum Secretary and IBCC Director General Muhammad Usman Khan.
