MULTAN: Mehran Sattar, son of a fruit-seller, Iqra Khalid, daughter of an iron merchant and Kainat Zulqadar, daughter of an expatriate, clinched the first three positions in the intermediate examination.

Mehran Sattar from KIPS College for Boys, Multan, won the overall first position by securing 1,031 marks, while Iqra Khalid from Punjab College for Girls, Khanewal, secured the second position with 1,029 marks and the third position went to Kainat Zulqadar from the City College of Science and Commerce with 1,025 marks.

The result was announced in a ceremony at Jubilee Hall of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) on Friday.

In Arts Group, Muhammad Tariq, a private candidate, stood first by securing 901 marks, while Muhammad Ayub Khan, another private student, bagged the second position by getting 891 marks and the third position went to Youail Yousuf from the Govt Emerson College, Multan, who got 886 marks. All top positions went to private colleges like the last year.

According to the gazette notification, 53,751 candidates appeared in the FA/FSc examination this year, of them 28,804 passed.

Provincial Minster for Prisons Chaudhry Abdul Waheed Arain praised the position holders, their parents, teachers and colleges for their brilliant performance.

He disbursed cash prizes, medals and other prizes among the position holders. Acting BISE Chairman Prof Arshad Awan and Controller Prof Haider Abbas also spoke.

Toppers’ aim: Top position holders of the intermediate examinations urged the students to pay respect to their parents and teachers and work diligently for bringing laurels in their lives.

Talking to this news agency, Mehran Sattar, who grabbed the first position, said he always paid respect to his parents and teachers. He said he wished to be aeronautical engineer in the future.

Youngest in the family of six, Mehran said there was always room for improvement. He, however, added he was satisfied with the existing education system.The second position holder with 1,029 marks, Iqra Khalid, said she wanted to be neurosurgeon in the future.

She added she used to spend nine hours on studies daily and she was expecting a position in the examination.

Daughter of an iron merchant, Iqra said that her achievement was owing to Allah's favours, teachers’ dedication and parents’ prayers.

Third position holder Kainat Zulqadar said that she was against cramming to pass the examinations.

She added that students did not have clear concepts of any topic and therefore felt difficulties in MCAT. She wanted to do research work after doing MBBS because country was lacking in this field, she said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014