Punjab education boards have sharply raised examination fees to manage a severe financial shortfall, placing a heavy burden on students appearing in board exams.
The boards have introduced a new charge for installing CCTV cameras at examination centers and added a Rs. 900 miscellaneous fee. They have also increased the certificate fee from Rs. 550 to Rs. 1,000.
After adding new charges and taxes, private candidates appearing in FA and FSc annual examinations will now pay Rs. 7,730, while regular students will pay Rs. 7,570.
The All Pakistan Private Schools Associations have rejected the fee increase. Officials estimate that education boards in Punjab will collect up to Rs. 15 billion through the revised fees.
For intermediate annual examinations starting May 20, 2026, the revised fee structure includes an admission fee of Rs. 1,000, registration fee Rs. 1,000, processing fee Rs. 1,000, certificate fee Rs. 1,000, miscellaneous fee Rs. 900, CCTV fee Rs. 30, development charges Rs. 350, scholarship fee Rs. 250, and postal charges Rs. 300.
Boards have set intermediate admission fees at Rs. 1,700 for regular arts students, Rs. 1,740 for regular science students, Rs. 1,800 for private arts students, and Rs. 1,900 for private science students.
All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association President Abrar Ahmed Khan, All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association President Irfan Muzaffar Kiani, and All Pakistan Private Schools Association President Malik Naseem Ahmed condemned the increase.
They said examination halls already have CCTV cameras and argued that students should not bear the cost. They also described the Rs. 900 miscellaneous fee as unjust and called the rise in certificate and processing fees excessive.