RAWALPINDI: Punjab Public Service Commission has decided to shift the examination centres of PMS 2025 compulsory subjects of 1,216 candidates from Rawalpindi Division to Lahore as part of security measures taken for expected second round of US-Iran talks.
However, in a late night development, it was announced that US Vice President JD Vance had postponed his visit to Pakistan.
The move to shift examination centres to Lahore has inconvenienced candidates, especially women from Rawalpindi Division, as they have to travel all the way to Lahore and stay in hotels, particularly when intercity buses were suspended till Tuesday.
This decision of shifting of examination centre was taken at a meeting of the committee set up under the chairmanship of Member Punjab Public Service Commission Mirza Sohail Aamir.
After the final approval of Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman retired Lt-Gen Mohammad Abdul Aziz, Secretary Punjab Public Service Commission Afzal Ahmed has issued an official notification in this regard.
According to Deputy Director Punjab Public Service Commission Syed Kazim Muqaddas Kazmi, 1216 candidates of PMS 2025, including 754 males and 462 females, who were to appear for the examination from April 24 to April 26, at Government Gordon Graduate College, Liaquat Road, Rawalpindi and Government Associate College for Women, Jhanda Chichi, have been shifted to Lahore due to the current security situation in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The candidates’ examinations will now be held at Divisional Public School, Model Town, Lahore to provide a conducive environment to the candidates. According to the spokesperson, the affected candidates have been directed to download their revised admission letters from the Punjab Public Service Commission website after 2:00 PM on April 21, 2026 and ensure their attendance at the new examination center as per the schedule.
Furthermore, the results of Phase One of Punjab’s biggest examination PMS/Combined Competitive Examination 2025 have already been announced in which more than 8,000 candidates were declared successful for 119 posts.
The Phase-I examination was held on January 25, 2026 in which more than 36,000 candidates participated while 8,898 candidates were successful and are being called for the eleven subjective papers of Phase-II.
According to the commission, phase-II will include five compulsory and six optional subjects, while after the written examination, candidates will also have to undergo psychological testing and an interview, after which the final merit list will be released.
On the other hand, many women candidates raised concern over the surprise decision of the Punjab Public Service Commission. “It should be informed a week ago but the sudden change of the examination centre put candidates into trouble,” said a candidate.
A female candidate said that she had to make arrangement to go to Lahore by private car as there was no public transport and they had to stay in the hotel for three days. “My mother will go to Lahore with me as it will be difficult for the girls to stay in hotel alone,” she said.
Meanwhile, a large number of candidates pointed out that the centres in Rawalpindi were within their reach, which have now been shifted to Lahore. They said travelling to Lahore, arranging lodgings and settling for preparation of papers in short time notice were some of the challenging tasks especially for female and handicapped candidates.
The candidates requesting anonymity pointed out that the papers, which have been shifted to Lahore can be rescheduled according to the situation in Islamabad.
They said the situation in Rawalpindi city was quite normal only heavy traffic was being filtered so shifting of papers to Lahore was uncalled for.
Travelling to Lahore for three paper sand then returning to hometown for rest of the papers was quite paradoxical situation for them. They have urged upon the PPSC chairman to review the decision in the best interest of candidates.
— Hamid Asghar from Gujar Khan also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026
