ISLAMABAD: Students from the Potohar region dominated the top positions in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examinations 2026, according to the results announced by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) on Wednesday.

According to the results of the SSC Part I and Part II First Annual Examination 2026, the overall pass percentage stood at 59.77pc in SSC-I and 91.33pc in SSC-II.

In the Science Group, Afeera Ijaz of Army Public School and College for Girls, Pasban, Rawalpindi Cantonment, clinched first position by securing 1,089 marks.

Amna Nauman of Army Public School and College, Muzaffarabad, AJK, stood second with 1,088 marks, followed by Huzaifa Haider of Fazaia Inter College, Jinnah Camp, Khanna Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment, who secured third position with 1,086 marks.

In the Humanities Group, Fatima Zahra of CB Public Girls School and College, Wah Cantt, secured first position with 1,037 marks. The second position was shared by Muhammad Maaz of the Institute of Islamic Sciences, Satra Meel, Islamabad, and Manaal Zahid of DHA Senior School for Girls, Phase V, DHA Lahore, who obtained 1,031 marks each.

The third position was secured by Aneesha Nisar of Pakistan Education Academy, Dubai, UAE, with 1,023 marks.

The results were officially announced during a ceremony attended by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, State Minister for Education Wajiha Qamar, MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, teachers, principals, parents and position holders.

FBISE Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik shared details of the results with participants and highlighted the salient features of the examinations and the board’s functioning.

According to the board, 150,077 regular and private candidates were enrolled in SSC-I, of whom 88,646 passed, resulting in a pass percentage of 59.77pc. Meanwhile, 141,653 students were enrolled in SSC-II, of whom 128,070 passed, with a pass percentage of 91.33pc.

The results also showed that 86 cases of unfair means were reported this year, including 24 in SSC-I and 62 in SSC-II. The board said a judicious procedure was adopted to decide the cases, personal hearings were provided to all concerned, and all cases had been decided.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to continue striving for excellence and contribute to the country’s progress.

It is pertinent to note that no Islamabad-based public school secured a position this year.

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), which regulates public-sector schools and colleges in Islamabad, remained without a regular head for around three years until recently. During that period, the education ministry ran the FDE under interim arrangements. However, a regular director general has now been appointed.

When Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was asked about the absence of FDE schools among the position holders, he said the education ministry had been paying special attention to public-sector schools and that considerable progress had been made.

He added that, as the FBISE conducts examinations across the country, securing top positions had always been a tough challenge for any school.

Responding to a question about the non-implementation of the 10pc scholarship quota for deserving students in Islamabad-based private schools, Dr Siddiqui said, “We have sought a report from the concerned wing [Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority] in this regard.”

Meanwhile, State Minister for Education Wajiha Qamar said the FDE had already been directed to identify weaknesses in schools and take steps to address any deficiencies.

“I want to see FDE schools securing positions, and achieving that requires hard work. We will try our best to bring further improvement,” she said.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026