ISSB Malir (Karachi)

Four days that decide your commission

Candidates who clear the initial test, physical and medical for officer entries receive a call letter for ISSB Malir (Karachi). The board assesses whether you have the officer-like qualities (OLQs) the Army looks for - leadership, teamwork, courage under pressure and clarity of thought.

1. Day 1 - Screening: intelligence tests and group discussion. Screened-out candidates return home the same day with full board hospitality.
2. Day 2 - Psychology: Thematic Apperception Test, Word Association, Situation Reaction and Self Description, plus the deputy president’s interview.
3. Day 3 - GTO tasks: group planning, progressive group tasks, obstacle race, lecturette, individual obstacles and command task on the outdoor ground.
4. Day 4 - Conference & result: every assessor discusses your file, the final conference is held, and results are announced. Recommended candidates proceed to final medical at the Military Hospital.

The coastal board

Malir is the board of the south - Sindh candidates, and those assigned from Balochistan and southern Punjab - and its setting in Karachi's Malir cantonment writes two rules no other board has. First, the sea air: humidity makes the GTO day sweat-heavy, and candidates who trained in drier climates underestimate how fast the water bottle empties on the obstacle ground - hydrate from the first bell, not when thirst arrives. Second, the city itself: Karachi's size means your arrival plan needs a fixed address, a mapped route and a morning buffer, because distances that look short on the map take an hour at peak traffic. The reward for candidates from the Karachi centre and Hyderabad centre is familiarity - many report knowing the city's rhythm settles their nerves before Day 1. Nursing and medical cadets from Sindh's colleges meet their board here for most intakes.

Officer intakes that report to this board: PMA Long Course · AFNS BSc Nursing · Medical Cadet Course · Lady Cadet Course.