Pakistan has finally ended a decades-old restriction that limited arts students from choosing science or technical fields at the intermediate level. In a landmark decision taken during its 183rd meeting in Karachi, the Inter-Board Coordination Commission (IBCC) has approved a nationwide open-admission policy.
✅ What’s Changing?
For the first time, students who completed matric in Arts can now freely take admission in:
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Pre-Medical
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Pre-Engineering
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ICS
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I.Com
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Humanities (optional, not compulsory)
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Any other intermediate group
Education authorities say this change was long overdue and will now allow thousands of students to pursue fields they were previously blocked from, regardless of talent or interest.
🎓 Big Relief for O- and A-Level Students
The IBCC also approved another major update:
➡️ O/A Level students who passed at least two major science subjects will now receive science-group equivalence, not humanities.
This means they will no longer face unnecessary hurdles when applying to science programs in colleges or universities.
🔄 Future Plan: Ending “Science vs Arts” at Matric
The commission also discussed a proposal to abolish the rigid Science/Arts divide at the matric level altogether and replace it with a flexible SSC system where students pick electives freely.
A final decision on this will be made in upcoming meetings.
🏛️ Implementation Starts Next Academic Session
IBCC Executive Director Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah confirmed that:
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Boards will soon receive instructions
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Colleges will adopt open enrollment for 1st-year admissions
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O/A Level science-group equivalence has already begun
He said the goal is to eliminate outdated restrictions and allow students to grow without academic roadblocks.
