Key Takeaways
- Parliamentary committee informed that O/A level exam papers likely leaked from another country.
- National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency found no evidence linking leak to Pakistan.
- Committee expresses concern over drug use in educational institutions.
A parliamentary committee was informed on Monday that the leakage of O/A level examination papers had likely originated from another country, as no evidence was found to establish its link with Pakistan.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Anjum Aqeel Khan, discussed the matter during a meeting, where it was informed that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had examined the issue and found no evidence to suggest the leakage had originated from within Pakistan.
The committee was further informed that NCCIA does not have direct access to servers located abroad, which limits its ability to independently trace the source, location, and mechanism of any alleged leakage occurring through overseas servers.
In May this year, the government had ordered a probe into the alleged leakage of Cambridge examination papers, directing NCCIA to investigate in coordination with Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) amid concerns raised by parents and students.
The committee expressed grave concern over the growing menace of narcotics in educational institutions and observed that increasing reports of drug use and supply to students required immediate, coordinated, and result-oriented action by the concerned authorities.
The committee stressed the need for an effective coordination mechanism among the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), police, Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) to identify the sources of drug supply and prevent the involvement of criminal elements in and around educational institutions.
The committee sought verified data on reported cases of drug use and supply in educational institutions, including the number and nature of cases, action taken by the concerned authorities, the mechanism adopted for inter-agency coordination, and details of the penalties and punishments awarded to those found involved.
The meeting observed that the responsibility for ensuring a safe, secure, and drug-free learning environment requires a coordinated response involving educational institutions, law-enforcement agencies, and regulatory authorities with clear responsibilities, effective monitoring, and strict enforcement.
The committee noted that Anti-Drug and Tobacco Committees had been established in higher educational institutions to monitor and address issues relating to drug and tobacco use among students. However, members stressed that such institutional mechanisms must be strengthened and linked with law-enforcement and regulatory authorities to ensure timely reporting, investigation, and action in cases involving narcotics.
