ISLAMABAD: Cambridge International Education (CIE) and the British Council have announced the cancellation of all examinations scheduled for Friday, May 9, in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Islamabad Capital Territory, and Punjab, citing the ongoing security situation.
The cancellation impacts students taking O Level, IGCSE, and International AS & A Level exams at both Cambridge Direct centres and British Council-affiliated schools.
“This decision applies only to exams on Friday, 9 May,” the organizations clarified in a joint statement. “We will update schools regarding Monday’s exams by the evening of Sunday, 11 May.”
Exams in other regions of Pakistan are still expected to proceed on May 9 unless the security landscape changes. Any new developments will be promptly communicated.
Emphasizing student welfare, both institutions reiterated that “the safety of students and staff remains our top priority, alongside ensuring students can continue progressing in their education.” They also reassured students that in cases of exam cancellation, established processes would be used to award fair grades.
Students have been advised to consult only official Cambridge and British Council Pakistan channels for accurate updates. Private candidates are encouraged to contact British Council Customer Services, while school-enrolled candidates should reach out to their respective institutions.
Earlier, on Thursday, May 8, the British Council also canceled all GCE, IGCSE, IELTS, and University of London exams scheduled in the afternoon across all Lahore venues due to emerging safety concerns. “This decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of candidates,” the Council stated, urging students and families to rely solely on verified communication channels for updates.
No announcements have yet been made regarding rescheduling of the canceled exams.
The exam cancellations follow heightened regional tensions after India launched unprovoked strikes on Pakistani territory early Wednesday, two weeks after blaming Pakistan for an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that left 26 dead.
Islamabad has denied the accusations, vowing retaliation and claiming it downed five Indian aircraft, destroyed 25 drones, and damaged several military checkposts in response.
