KARACHI, May 8: The HSC Part-II annual examinations in Information Technology as optional subject would be held on May 24 at seven designated centres at colleges, said a notification.

The Board of Intermediate Education Karachi has refixed the centres of candidates of Pre-Medical, Home Economics, Commerce (regular) and Pre-Engineering groups for the purpose.

The notification added that only those candidates who had already applied on the prescribed proforma for taking the IT exam as optional subject were eligible to appear in the said examination.

As many as 3118, 1737 female and 1381 male, have applied to be examined in the IT optional exam which is being held for the first time.

The IT subject at the Intermediate level was introduced in 2001 as compulsory paper. But on technical grounds now the Sindh government has decided to defer the holding of the exam till 2004.

The IT (optional) subject examination will be held in two shifts, ie from 10am to 1pm and from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The centres of examinations as announced by the board are as follows:

Timings-10am to 1pm:

Pre-Medical (male)-Islamia Arts and Commerce College, Pre-Medical (females) Sir Syed Girls College.

Home Economics-Sir Syed Girls College.

Commerce (male)-Islamia Science College,

Commerce (female)-Government College for Women, Shahrah-i-Liaquat.

Timings 2.30 pm to 5.30pm

Pre-Engineering (male)-Islamic Science College.

Pre-Engineering (female)-Sir Syed Girls College.