In a major move, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has postponed two major entry tests in Balochistan due to prevailing security concerns in the provincial capital, Quetta.
In a statement issued on Saturday, HEC said the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) and the Undergraduate Studies Admission Test (USAT), scheduled for 1 February 2026, would not be held in Balochistan.
The commission clarified that the decision applies only to the province of Balochistan, while examinations in other parts of the country will go ahead as planned.
The commission said that a new date for candidates in Balochistan would be announced later and advised students to regularly check the HEC and Education Testing Council websites for updates.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways also suspended all train services operating from Quetta, including routes to Punjab, Karachi and Chaman, as well as services on the Zahedan section.
According to the source, the Jaffer Express travelling from Peshawar to Quetta was stopped at Jacobabad station in Sindh after security clearance was not granted.
It is pertinent to mention that authorities also suspended mobile and internet services across Quetta on Saturday for security reasons.