Matric, intermediate exams to take place after June 20: NCOC

Amid the third wave of coronavirus, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday announced that all Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations will be held after June 20, 2021.

Read here: Punjab announces dates for matriculation and intermediate examinations

The decision was taken during a meeting of the forum held under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and co-chaired by Lt General Hamood Uz Zaman Khan.

A detailed review of disease prevalence in the country was taken, a statement from the NCOC said.

The forum decided that all professional and non-professional examinations will take place on case-to-case basis as recommended by the Ministry of Education.

Read here: NCOC decides to hold board exams across Pakistan this year

The statement said that the forum allowed staggered re-opening of education institutes in districts with less than 5% positivity ratio from June 7 (other than those reopened from May 24).

The NCOC said that restaurants can remain open for outdoor dining till 12am, whereas takeaways have been allowed 24/7.

The statement said that the tourism sector will also be allowed to reopen under stringent Covid-19 protocols. "Separate instructions on protocols being issued to all federating units," it added.

Outdoor marriage ceremonies with maximum 150 individuals have also been allowed from June 1. However, a review in this regard will be taken on May 27.

Read here: Intermediate exams in Balochistan deferred due to coronavirus

The statement said that restrictions will continue to remain in place on shrines, cinemas, indoor dining, indoor gyms, amusement parks (except walking and jogging tracks), a ban on contact sports, festivals, cultural and other events, ban on all types of indoor and outdoor gatherings and ban on inter-provincial public transport for two closed days (Saturday and Sunday).

NCOC statement further said a detailed review will be carried out on May 27 and June 7 respectively.

"A critical monitoring of disease prevalence and critical health care system is being carried out on daily basis, and necessary steps will be taken accordingly, whenever deem appropriate to control the disease spread," it further said.

Earlier, while inaugurating a mass vaccination centre in Islamabad, Asad Umar vowed to achieve the vaccination target at the earliest. He urged the public to get vaccinated to fight the pandemic.

He said that there have been no side effects of the vaccine in Pakistan.

Speaking about the new facility in Islamabad, Umar said that 7,000 people will be vaccinated at the centre. "75 counters and 100 well-trained professionals have been deployed to vaccinate people."