TEHRAN -- The 16th Standard Persian Language Proficiency Test (SAMFA) was held for Pakistani candidates in Rawalpindi and Lahore, offering participants an opportunity to assess their language skills and explore pathways to further study at Iranian universities.
According to IRNA news agency, the examination was held at the Iran Culture House in Rawalpindi under the supervision of Iran’s cultural attaché and the head of the cultural center, Mehdi Taheri. 
Candidates from the two examination centers included university students from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as learners enrolled in Persian-language courses offered by the Iran Culture House.
SAMFA is administered by Iran’s National Organization for Educational Testing to assess the Persian-language proficiency of international students and non-native speakers. The examination covers four core skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Taheri described the test as an opportunity for Persian-language learners and enthusiasts to evaluate their command of the language. He also emphasized the role of Persian-language education in strengthening cultural connections between Iran and Pakistan, two neighboring countries with longstanding historical and cultural ties.
According to Taheri, interest in Iranian culture and civilization extends across different sections of Pakistani society. The Iran Culture House therefore provides regular Persian-language courses, both in person and online, to meet the needs of learners and support their academic ambitions.
Learning Persian can also help Pakistani students pursue higher education in Iran, where knowledge of the language may be an important advantage for those seeking to study in local universities.
Taheri added that the Iranian cultural mission in Rawalpindi had awarded more scholarships to students in the previous year than any other Iranian cultural mission abroad. Following the final review
 of applicants’ eligibility, the successful candidates were expected to begin their studies at Iranian universities.
The examination also drew participants who spoke of their interest in Persian and its literary heritage. Persian has historically played an important role in the intellectual and literary traditions of the Indian subcontinent, influencing poetry, scholarship and cultural exchange across the region.
In Pakistan, the works of celebrated Persian poets such as Hafez and Saadi continue to be discussed alongside the legacy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the philosopher and poet whose engagement with Persian literature remains central to his intellectual legacy.
The shared literary and cultural heritage of Iran and Pakistan provides a foundation for continued educational cooperation. Initiatives such as SAMFA, alongside language classes and scholarship programs, offer practical ways to deepen these connections and introduce new generations of Pakistani students to Persian language and literature.