Minister Sikandar inspects exam centres, orders immediate improvements

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2026) Punjab Minister for education Rana Sikandar Hayat on Monday conducted surprise visits to multiple matriculation examination centres in Kahna, Walton and Model Town, reviewing the ongoing examination process and seeking feedback from candidates regarding facilities.

During his visit to a centre in Kahna, the minister expressed displeasure over inadequate lighting and poor cleanliness arrangements, directing the board administration to ensure immediate improvement in both areas. In Model Town, he took serious notice of students' complaints about uncomfortable seating and ordered authorities to replace chairs the same day, instructing that comfortable seating be ensured at all examination centres.

He also directed officials to ensure provision of clean drinking water and other essential facilities, reiterating that the government’s commitment to transparent examinations was being fulfilled.

He said that incidents of UMC had decreased by 80 per cent this year, adding that only three such cases were reported from hard areas.

Highlighting strict monitoring, the minister said a robust system had been put in place and teams were actively working across Punjab. He added that monitoring teams in South Punjab, led by coordinators Sikandar Khan and Usman Mehr, recovered cheating material during inspections in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and other districts, besides detecting message exchanges on mobile phones of supervisory staff assisting candidates. Immediate action had been taken against those involved.

The minister asserted that no one would be allowed to impersonate candidates or use unfair means to secure undue advantage. He further said transparency in examinations had been ensured through biometric attendance, QR code scanning and online monitoring of centres through surveillance cameras.