Internet services to be suspended in Pakistan on Sunday: Here’s why

ISLAMABAD: Mobile and internet service will remain suspended around the examination centers in Punjab and Peshawar following the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs and concerned provincial authorities for the preparation of Medical Entry Test.

The Punjab government has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to suspend mobile and internet services within a radius of 500 meters of 26 examination centers on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior. The location coordinates of these centers in Punjab have been sent to PTA for suspension of mobile and internet services.

These centers are established in 12 districts including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujarat, and Rahim Yar Khan. The entrance test in medical colleges of Punjab is scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 22.

Similar arrangements have been made for the medical entry test in Peshawar, which is also scheduled on Sunday.

Khyber Medical University (KMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zia-ul-Haq presided over a meeting to finalize the arrangements, which was attended by representatives of the district administration, police and other relevant departments. Six examination centers have been allocated in Peshawar for the examination where strict security protocols will be implemented.

To ensure the integrity and security of the examination, various items including mobile phones, watches, calculators, pens, pencils, jewelery and ATM cards have been banned in the examination centres. Mobile phone service around the centers will also remain suspended.

Additionally, each examination center will be supervised by a senior police officer of SP rank and an Assistant Commissioner. The students will be searched in three stages, while security measures include body searches through metal detectors and biometric verification of candidates through NADRA’s system.

Students will be allowed to carry only their roll number slips and identity cards inside the examination halls. Basic necessities like mineral water, juice, biscuits, ball point pens, and examination cards will be provided to the candidates at the centres, these items are pre-cleaned by the Special Branch team.

The Vice Chancellor of KMU along with other officials will monitor the examination centers from a control room set up within the university to ensure peaceful conduct of the examination.