Tribune’s Gamechangers 2011: Sitara Akbar & Ibrahim Shahid

Defying the odds, setting World Records.


Express January 13, 2012

While Pakistan was declared to be facing an “Education Emergency” this year, two young brainiacs, Sitara Akbar of Chiniot, and Ibrahim Shahid of Islamabad proved to be shining stars in an otherwise bleak year.

Shahid stunned the world in January by setting a new world record by scoring 23 As in the Cambridge O level exams, while Akbar set a world record after passing O level English, Mathematics, and Science at the age of 11. Akbar had earlier also set a world record for passing O level Biology at the age of 10, and a record in Pakistan after passing O level Chemistry at the age of 9.

Quote of the year: “My teacher said I would never excel.” – Ibrahim Shahid

Quote of the year: “I had to open a private school (Star Academy, Rabwah) for her because no other school was willing to keep her.” – Sitara Akbar’s father.

COMMENTS (1)

Javed | 12 years ago | Reply

Education ministry should simply be handed over to The Citizens Foundation. They have done a much better job in 10 years than the government has in 64 years.

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