Allama Iqbal Open University has postponed its Spring 2026 semester examinations scheduled for October 12 and 13 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the prevailing law and order situation in the province. In its place, the university has announced revised dates: papers originally set for October 12 will now be held on November 2, while those scheduled for October 13 will take place on November 3, 2026.
The decision was announced by the university’s Examination Branch on Monday, October 12. Students across the province are advised to stay in contact with official sources and their nearest AIOU regional offices for further instructions. Examinations in the rest of the country, including the Hazara Division of KP, will continue exactly as scheduled.
Key Takeaways
- AIOU has postponed Spring 2026 exams scheduled for October 12 and 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the prevailing law and order situation.
- Papers of October 12 will now be held on November 2, and papers of October 13 on November 3, 2026.
- Exams in Hazara Division and the rest of the country continue as per the original schedule.
What exactly has been postponed
The postponement applies to Spring 2026 semester papers falling on the two affected dates, October 12 and 13, at AIOU examination centres across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Everything else on the date sheet remains unchanged.
Here is the revised plan at a glance:
| Original date | New date |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2026 | November 2, 2026 |
| October 13, 2026 | November 3, 2026 |
The university has not indicated any change in examination centres or timings for the rescheduled papers. AIOU’s administration has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to students by the rescheduling.
Why the university took this step
AIOU’s official announcement points to the prevailing law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the reason. The decision mirrors broader disruptions to academic life across the province: all eight Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs) in KP also postponed the SSC Annual-II Examinations 2026 for a second time, and local administrations closed educational institutions in several cities including Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu and Karak on Monday.
The October 12–13 postponement follows an earlier round of disruption: the first four papers of the SSC Annual-II exams, originally due from October 7, had already been deferred amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.
What about Hazara Division and other regions?
This is the part that has caused the most confusion, so it bears stating clearly: exams in Hazara Division and all other regions of the country will be held as per the already announced schedule. The postponement covers Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with the Hazara Division explicitly excluded.
If your roll number slip shows a centre in Hazara Division — Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur or surrounding districts — your papers on October 12 and 13 proceed as normal. Students elsewhere in the country are likewise unaffected.
What AIOU students should do now
AIOU is Pakistan’s largest distance-learning institution, and many of its students juggle studies with work and family responsibilities. A sudden shift of two to three weeks can throw off carefully laid plans, so a little proactive checking goes a long way.
Check your status
- Confirm your region. The postponement applies to KP exam centres excluding Hazara Division. If you are unsure which regional jurisdiction your centre falls under, contact your nearest AIOU regional office.
- Keep your roll number slip safe. Existing roll number slips and admit cards remain the primary proof of eligibility. In past reschedulings, AIOU has accepted already-issued slips at the same centres — but do not assume this; watch for a formal clarification.
- Use only official channels. AIOU has advised students to stay in touch with official sources or the nearest regional offices. The university’s website, aiou.edu.pk, and its helpline carry official notifications. Unverified posts on social media and messaging groups frequently circulate wrong dates.
Plan your preparation
- Treat the extra weeks as revision time. With papers of October 12 moving to November 2, you gain roughly three weeks of preparation — use them for past papers and weak areas rather than starting new topics.
- Do not assume further shifts. Until the university says otherwise, the rest of the Spring 2026 date sheet stands. Keep preparing for your later papers on their original dates.
Context: AIOU and exam disruptions
This is not the first time AIOU has adjusted its examination schedule over security concerns. The university has previously postponed papers in specific cities — including Islamabad and Rawalpindi in November 2024 — while allowing the rest of the country to proceed. That pattern is repeating here: targeted postponement rather than a nationwide halt.
The distinction matters for students. AIOU’s regional model means a disruption in one province does not automatically cascade into others, and the university has shown it prefers surgical rescheduling over blanket cancellations.
Key dates to remember
- October 12, 2026 — Original papers → now November 2, 2026
- October 13, 2026 — Original papers → now November 3, 2026
- October 12, 2026 — Official announcement issued by AIOU’s Examination Branch
The bottom line
If you are an AIOU student in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (outside Hazara Division) with papers on October 12 or 13, your exams are now on November 2 and 3 respectively. Mark the new dates, keep an eye on official AIOU channels for any further updates, and use the extra preparation time well. Everyone else — Hazara Division and the rest of Pakistan — carries on with the original schedule.
