Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education has initiated an inquiry into allegations of widespread paper leaks in Cambridge International examinations held in Pakistan. The issue was raised by MNA Muhammad Ali Sarfraz, who presented video and documentary evidence during the committee’s meeting, claiming that at least four A-Level and O-Level exam papers—Economics, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science—were leaked in advance and sold for U.S. dollars.
Sarfraz noted that leaks have been occurring for the past two years, affecting thousands of students despite the high cost of examinations, which range from PKR 30,000 to PKR 60,000 per paper. He emphasized that nearly 160,000 students from Pakistan sit for these exams annually, questioning the credibility of the system and fairness in grading. The issue, he said, had shaken public confidence in the integrity of one of the world’s most reputed examination boards.
In response, Cambridge’s Pakistan Country Director, Uzma Yusuf, rejected the allegations and instead pointed to systemic failures in Pakistan’s own education system. She asked members to identify any local board whose students consistently gained admission to top international universities. Her remarks were met with criticism from committee members, who argued that many Pakistani institutions were producing competitive graduates, and that blaming local systems was a deflection.
The Executive Director of the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in Cambridge’s operations. He noted that when exams were administered by the British Council, leaks were rare. However, once schools were permitted to independently conduct exams, incidents of leaked papers increased. He also revealed that past regulatory changes allowed schools like Beaconhouse to conduct exams without oversight or corresponding fee reductions from Cambridge.
The committee criticized Cambridge for not involving IBCC in oversight despite operating under its jurisdiction. Members suggested either allowing students free retakes in July or lowering grade thresholds to ensure fairness. Concerns were raised that students might miss progression to the next academic level despite being offered re-exams.
The committee has formed a subcommittee, led by MNA Sabeen and including Zaeeb Jafar, Dr. Aleem, Muhammad Ali Sarfraz, and IBCC officials. The panel will invite Uzma Yusuf for a detailed briefing following the conclusion of the exam session, with the next meeting scheduled after June 16. The incident has raised urgent questions about regulatory enforcement, exam security, and the commercialization of foreign examinations in Pakistan.
