Universities in the Twin Cities go online before planned discussions between Iran and the US.

Several universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi said on Sunday that they would be moving lessons online and putting off tests because of the expected last round of talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad.

According to a notice, the International Islamic University Islamabad indicated that all classes will be offered online from April 20 to 24. The institution also pushed back the midterm exams that were supposed to take place on April 20 and 21.

The administration set up a four-day work week for non-teaching staff, from Monday to Thursday, with half of the workforce working from home. This policy will be in effect from April 20 to 30.

Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi further said that all classes will be held online from April 18 to 26. According to an official notice, the main campus of the institution would be shuttered for a week.

The notice also said that “all students living in University hostels are hereby directed to vacate the hostels immediately.” It also said that employees, including officers, teachers, and staff, “shall perform their duties from home during this period,” but essential staff would still be available as needed.

Rawalpindi Medical University has put off all of its planned Allied Health Sciences exams for the time being. The university’s management indicated that the move was made to help students in the current uncertain situation.

The administration also said that new dates for the postponed tests will be notified in due time.

High vigilance before talks at a high level

There are also very high levels of security in Rawalpindi before the talks. There are more than 10,000 police officers on duty and more than 600 checkpoints set up all across the city. Authorities have said that starting at midnight today, numerous sensitive sites around Nur Khan Airbase and Islamabad International Airport will be closed off.

Read: Iran claims there is no date for the next round of talks with the US.

Flying drones, pigeons, and shooting from the air are all now illegal. Officials say that these steps are meant to keep planes with important foreign delegations safe.

A police spokeswoman indicated that the unusual steps are being taken because of the transit of foreign delegations. A high-level meeting at Police Lines Headquarters, led by Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani, gave orders to make sure that security was watertight.

As part of the security measures, all boys’ and girls’ hostels in Rawalpindi would also be closed till further notice. Police have delivered notifications to all hostel owners telling them to leave their hostels by midnight on Saturday. The notice told boys and girls who were staying in the hostels to go home, and anyone who doesn’t do what they’re told will face legal action.

Federal capital limited

Security has also been put on high alert on key routes in Islamabad. The government has started the process of getting security certificates from the owners of buildings on these routes.

There hasn’t been an official word from any of the sides regarding when the next round of discussions will take place, though.

The US and Israel attacked Iran together on February 28. In response, Tehran attacked Israel and other nations in the region that house US assets.

Since April 8, when Pakistan helped to end the fighting for two weeks, the war has been on hold.