No student from a government institution secured one of the top positions in the BA or BSc exams. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Girls clinched the top three positions in the annual BA/BSc exams for 2013, while private colleges outperformed government colleges, according to results announced by the Punjab University on Wednesday.
A total of 134,880 students sat the annual BA/BSc 2013 exams and 50,281 passed, making a pass percentage of 37.28 per cent. No student from a government institution secured one of the top positions in the BA or BSc exams.
The top three performers were BSc students and all three had opted for mathematics A, mathematics B and physics. Sadaf Ismail of Punjab College for Women Civil Lines Gujranwala secured the top position with 706 marks out of 800, or 88.2 per cent. Sadia Nawaz of Punjab College of Science Faisalabad came second with 699 marks and Gulfam Shahzadi of Punjab College of Science Sialkot came third with 684 marks.
Maria Nawaz, a private candidate from Toba Tek Singh, topped the BA exam results with 669 marks out of 800, a percentage of 83.6. Muhammad Fahad Arshad, a private candidate from Shahdara, came second with 666 marks and Chand Hayat, a private candidate from Gujranwala, came third with 664 marks. The two girls who finished first and third had chosen Arabic and Islamic studies, while Arshad in second place studied Kashmiryat and Arabic.
The students’ achievements were recognised at a prize distribution ceremony at the PU after the results were announced.
All six said that they would pursue higher studies.
Ismail, the student with the highest marks, said she would do an MSc in physics and then decide what to do after that. Sadia Nawaz, who came second in the BSc exams, also said she planned further study in physics, after which she would go into research. Gulfam Shahzadi said she would do an MSc in mathematics.
Maria Nawaz, who came first in the BA exams, plans to do a PhD in Arabic, while Muhammad Arshad said he would study media studies and wanted to be a journalist. Chand Hayat said she would pursue a master’s degree in English language and literature.
Meanwhile, not a single student from five government colleges in the Punjab was able to pass the BA or BSc exams for 2013. Students from Government Degree College Murree and Government College Pindi Gheb sat the BSc exams and all of them failed. Students from Government Degree College Dina, Government Degree College Jaranwala and Government Waris Shah College Jandiala Sher Khan sat the BA exams and all of them failed.
Awards ceremony
Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, PU Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Liaqat Ali said that the Holy Quran repeatedly stressed the need to focus on education. He said that only countries that give importance to education progress.
He said that Muslims had ruled the world for several centuries when they had the most advanced knowledge. Lack of interest in education was the basic reason for the Muslims’ downfall, he added.
Prof Ali announced that the Punjab University would provide free education to the position holders. He also announced a bonus of Rs200,000 to be divided among exam staff.
No senior official from the Punjab government attended the ceremony. PU Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran is currently out of the country.
Punjab University Additional Registrar Prof Aurangzeb Alamgir, Additional Controller Ahmed Ali Chatha, Acting Treasurer Rao Muhammad Sharif and Deputy Examinations Controller Khurram Inayat also attended the ceremony.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2013.
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