The British Council has cancelled all afternoon exams in Lahore on Thursday due to increased security risks amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan.
This affects assessments for GCE, IGCSE, IELTS, and the University of London scheduled in the PM session at Lahore venues.
In a social media statement, the council said the decision was made with exam boards to “prioritise the safety and security of candidates.
“Students have been asked to stay in touch with their schools, while private candidates should contact the British Council’s Customer Services.
The council hasn’t confirmed if these exams will be rescheduled, but assured that updates will be shared through official channels.
Lahore remains under heightened security, with intermittent flight suspensions reported. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz declared a state of emergency in the province, placing all security forces on high alert, canceling medical staff leave, and instructing district administrations to stay fully vigilant.
These developments follow a sharp rise in tensions between Pakistan and India, triggered by an April 22 attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK, which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan without providing evidence, a claim Islamabad strongly rejected.
India responded by closing the Wagah border, suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and revoking Pakistani visas. Pakistan called any disruption to water flow an “act of war” and closed its side of the Wagah border.
Escalation peaked on Wednesday when Indian airstrikes hit several Pakistani cities. Pakistan’s military responded with both air and ground operations, downing five Indian jets, including four Rafales, and targeting Indian military posts.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated, “Pakistan could have shot down 10 Indian fighter jets,” but chose to show restraint. Indian media downplayed the losses, with some outlets removing reports under government pressure.
A CNN analyst said losing Rafales would hurt India’s air superiority narrative. Experts also viewed the clash as a test of modern military tech, with Pakistan deploying its new Chinese-made J-10C jets.
A senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that a Rafale was indeed shot down, the first ever in combat.
In another blow to India, Pakistan’s military confirmed shooting down 25 Israeli-made Harop drones using both electronic and traditional weapon systems.
The ISPR called the drone activity a “desperate and panicked response” following Pakistan’s powerful retaliation on May 6 and 7.