Private universities ask Shafqat Mehmood to ensure timely start to Autumn semester Pakistan Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood. — Facebook/Shafqat.Mahmood.Official/File The Autumn Semester 2021 should start on time, the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) said in a letter to Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood on Thursday. The letter comes after the government decided to hold exams and not promote students based on school or college assessed grades. Although the education minister has said that Matriculation and Intermediate exams, which are due to begin after June 15, will be given priority and be held first so that university admissions are not delayed, varsities are concerned the Autumn Semester will be pushed to a date later than usual.