Karachi ::The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) inaugurated its National High Achievers Ceremony 2025 in Karachi — the first in a series of ceremonies to be held across Pakistan, with upcoming celebrations in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Each year, AKU-EB’s High Achievers Ceremonies bring together high achievers, scholarship recipients, educators, and families from across the country to honour academic excellence and the spirit of learning. This year’s theme, “You Are a Drop in the Ocean,” embodies the Board’s growing emphasis on environmental sustainability and its belief that every learner — each drop — can create waves of collective change when joined by others.
The Karachi ceremony brought together students from Sindh, Punjab, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, who were recognized for their outstanding performance in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations this year. The event celebrated not just academic excellence but also the values of integrity, curiosity, and service that define AKU-EB’s approach to education.
The ceremony was graced by Mr. Zia Akhtar, President and CEO of The Citizens Foundation, as Chief Guest. Highlighting the transformative role of education, Mr. Akhtar remarked, “even having the ability to dream is a privilege. When that dream meets a strong, values-driven education system, it can create ripples of change that extend far beyond the classroom and transform entire communities.”
Speaking to the students, Dr. Naveed Yousuf, CEO of the Aga Khan University Examination Board, noted that the vision of the Board is to be a model of excellence, stating:
“We see a future where assessment becomes a catalyst for discovery, where schools become centres of innovation, and where every AKU-EB graduate steps into the world not just ready to succeed — but ready to make a difference. Education, after all, is not just about achievement — it is about purpose.”
Adding a student’s voice to the celebration, Esha, a National High Achiever, reflected on the deeper meaning of the ceremony’s theme in her speech: “As I look ahead, I hold on to this belief: that no question is too small, and no effort is insignificant. Each of us has a drop to give — a drop of curiosity, compassion, or courage — and together, these drops become the tide that shapes the future.”
As part of the celebrations, AKU-EB announced the recipients of its merit-based scholarships: the AKU-EB Meritorious Scholarships, AKU-EB Bridge Scholarships, and AKU-EB Jenabai Scholarships.
According to the latest University Destination Survey (UDS 2025), 93% of AKU-EB graduates have secured admission into higher education institutions, with a 95% survey response rate — an indicator of strong higher education admissions. Among the top universities chosen by AKU-EB graduates are NED University, LUMS, IBA, AKU, and Habib University.
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