The implementation of Pakistan’s new grading policy for matric and intermediate examinations faces fresh uncertainty as Punjab and Balochistan have not yet issued formal notifications, despite earlier approvals at the national level.
The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen and the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference approved the policy for uniform enforcement across all provinces and Azad Kashmir starting with the 2026 annual exams. However, Punjab and Balochistan have yet to formally adopt the framework, even as examinations approach.
Under the revised policy, passing marks for Classes 9 and 11 will increase from 33 percent to 40 percent. The new system also introduces separate passing requirements for each subject.
Education authorities stress that the policy was designed for nationwide implementation to maintain consistency, particularly for university admissions. Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad have already issued notifications and begun preparations.
Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah, Executive Director of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen, warned that adopting different grading systems across provinces could create complications in higher education admissions.
Universities plan to prepare merit lists for undergraduate programs under the new grading criteria, and any variation between provinces may lead to discrepancies in evaluation standards. Officials say synchronized enforcement remains essential to avoid confusion for students and institutions.
