In August 2023, applicants formed a long line outside a window at Government College University, a public institution in Lahore, Pakistan, to submit their credentials. The News International documented the scene as admissions opened for intermediate and undergraduate classes. Places at public institutions were scarce, and more universities were adding their own entry tests rather than relying only on school examination marks.
Everyone in the line carried similar papers, but not everyone had the same alternatives. For families unable to afford private education, one public-sector place could determine whether further study was possible at all. The order at the window was simple; the selection beyond it was competitive. The line of folders and hopefuls showed ambition converging on a very narrow entrance.
Quality check: The News International article and caption dated 20 August 2023 directly identify a long line of applicants waiting outside a GCU Lahore window to submit credentials.