Islamabad, Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi welcomed the new Mongolian Ambassador to Pakistan, Tuvshin Badral, in a ceremony held today.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Foreign Secretary congratulated Ambassador Badral on his new role and expressed Pakistan’s eagerness to enhance bilateral ties with Mongolia. The meeting underscored a mutual interest in expanding cooperation across various sectors between the two nations.
Karachi, A comprehensive investigation led by an inquiry committee appointed by Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir has unearthed significant financial misconduct and manipulation of examination results within the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK). The findings, which include cases of tampered award lists and inflated student marks in the 2022 annual examinations, were reported in a detailed submission to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the inquiry targeted allegations of financial irregularities and the manipulation of annual examination results, with the aim of identifying responsible officials and recommending measures to prevent such incidents. The committee’s scrutiny revealed that 70 out of 199 motorcycles designated for police use had been overhauled and returned to service, as part of efforts to enhance patrol efficiency in Karachi.
The investigation also spotlighted the practice of inflating marks for certain students across various subjects, with a list of 31 students provided as evidence. Additionally, the inquiry highlighted a significant increase in scrutiny cases from the HSC annual examinations of 2021 and 2022, emphasizing the need for a more transparent and just examination system.
The BIEK’s failure to provide complete records for examination scrutiny and the committee’s findings of overwriting and cutting in scripts, award lists, and tabulation registers point to a systemic issue of accountability and integrity within the examination process. The inquiry’s recommendations included disciplinary actions against certain officials, highlighting a lack of follow-through on previous committee recommendations.
Financial irregularities identified by the committee include the lack of adherence to the Chart of Accounts prescribed by the Auditor General of Pakistan, inadequate maintenance of financial records, and unauthorized opening of bank accounts. The report also criticizes the excessive privileges granted to board officials, such as unjustifiably high POL (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants) limits and the improper reimbursement of medical bills.
The investigation revealed a pattern of discrepancies and irregularities in service matters, appointments, promotions, and upgrades within the BIEK, calling into question the board’s governance and operational integrity. The Chief Minister’s office has yet to issue directives based on the committee’s findings, underscoring the need for urgent reform and accountability within the educational board.