Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, on Sunday has taken serious notice of alleged irregularities in Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) screening test held in Bannu on May 10.
A high-level inquiry has been ordered, and a formal letter has been sent from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Initial reports revealed that several individuals were arrested from a private guest house during the test. Authorities recovered test papers, bubble sheets, laptops, and scanning machines from their possession. These arrests occurred while the ETEA test was in progress, raising serious concerns about the transparency and supervision of the examination process.
The chief minister condemned the incident as a severe violation of merit and transparency. He has instructed the Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive and timely investigation. A senior officer or a group of officers will be appointed to thoroughly probe the incident, identify those responsible and recommend disciplinary action.
In his directive, CM Gandapur emphasized that the inquiry must not only examine the immediate facts of the incident but also assess potential systemic weaknesses within ETEA.
Any individual or institution found involved or negligent should face appropriate legal and administrative action.
The Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education has also been directed to reassess examination arrangements across all districts and ensure coordinated supervision by deploying officers to work closely with local administrations and ETEA.
The chief minister has further ordered that the inquiry report be submitted within 15 days. Reiterating his government’s commitment, he affirmed that there will be no compromise on the principles of merit, transparency, and accountability.
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced a series of solar-powered clean drinking water projects for Tank district, responding to long-held needs of local residents.
According to a statement released Sunday, these initiatives include Luqman Chungi water supply pipeline, drainage, and sanitation improvements.
Similarly, progress on significant water projects was being expedited to ensure timely completion. Noteworthy projects include a completed water supply scheme at the girls’ degree college, Sheikh Abad to City 12-foot wide water supply line, and construction of a 120,000-litre water storage tank in the city.
The provincial government emphasized that providing clean drinking water to all citizens remains a top priority.