FBISE Exam Centres Must Print Question Papers Received Online From 2027: Rs 170 a Candidate, Report by 1 November
From 2027, FBISE exam centres must receive question papers online and print them on site. FBISE pays Rs 170 a candidate. Reports are due by 1 November 2026.
Short answer: from the First Annual Examinations 2027, a school or college can be an FBISE exam centre only if it can receive question papers online and print them on site. FBISE will pay Rs 170 a candidate for printing and stationery. Institutions must send an implementation report by 1 November 2026.
The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education wrote to all its affiliated institutions on 13 October 2026. The letter turns online paper delivery from a trial into a rule for exam centres. If you run an FBISE school that hosts exams, this decides whether you keep doing so in 2027. We read the letter and list what it asks for.
Online paper printing becomes a condition for every exam centre
FBISE says the ability to receive and print online question papers will be "a mandatory prerequisite" for any institution to be made an exam centre. It applies from the SSC and HSSC First Annual Examinations 2027 onward. An institution without the setup will not be considered.
The letter says FBISE is expanding what it calls transmission of digital question papers and in-house printing at exam centres. In practice the centre receives the paper as a file and prints the copies itself, instead of receiving printed papers distributed by hand. FBISE says the aim is to remove the "inherent risks" of manual distribution. In plain words, fewer packets on the road means fewer chances for a paper to leak.
The hardware list starts with a Core i5 computer and a duplex printer
Each centre needs a computer with at least a 7th generation Core i5 processor, a duplex printer and a photocopier rated 60 to 90 pages a minute, power backup, high speed broadband, and 70 GSM A4 paper with staplers. Duplex means the printer prints on both sides of the sheet.
| Hardware and equipment | Software |
|---|---|
| Computer, at least Core i5 7th generation, and duplex printer, 60 to 90 pages a minute | Windows 10 or above, or a compatible system |
| Photocopier, 60 to 90 pages a minute | MS Word 2019 or above, or software that opens .doc and .docx files |
| Power from grid, generator or solar | A PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader X or above |
| High speed broadband internet | WinRAR, WinZip or a similar tool for .rar and .zip files |
| 70 GSM A4 paper in enough quantity, stapler and pins | Other material for secure printing |
None of this is unusual for a school office. The hard parts are speed and backup. A centre with a few hundred candidates in one sitting needs a printer and copier that will not jam, and power that will not fail when the paper arrives.
Institutions must report by 1 November 2026
An institution that wants to be an FBISE exam centre from First Annual 2027 must set up the equipment and send an implementation report by 1 November 2026. The report confirms that everything works, including backup, internet, software and printing material.
The report goes to the Controller (Test Administration) at FBISE, or by email to controller.ta@fbise.edu.pk. It must include the principal's name, mobile number and email, and the institution code.
- Check the centre's computer, printer and photocopier against the list.
- Install the required software and test that a sample .docx, PDF and .zip file open and print.
- Test the power backup with the printer and copier running together.
- Stock 70 GSM A4 paper and staplers for the expected number of candidates.
- Email the implementation report with the principal's details and institution code by 1 November 2026.
FBISE pays Rs 170 a candidate toward printing
FBISE says it has approved Rs 170 for each candidate to help centres cover printing and stationery. A centre with 300 candidates would receive Rs 51,000 on that rate. A centre with 500 would receive Rs 85,000.
The letter does not say whether Rs 170 is per paper or per candidate for the whole exam, or when it is paid. It also does not say who pays for the equipment. We read it as a stationery allowance, not a grant for buying printers. Heads should ask FBISE in writing before buying anything on the strength of it.
The same day, FBISE sent a second letter asking schools about computer labs for a planned FBISE computer-based MCQ test in five subjects. A school that wants to stay a centre should read both letters together. Both go to the same office and both depend on reliable power and internet.
What it means for students sitting the exam
For students, little changes on the day. You still get a printed paper at your desk. The difference is that it will have been printed at the centre, not delivered there already printed.
Your exam centre may change, though. If your school cannot meet the rule, FBISE may send its candidates elsewhere. Check the centre on your roll number slip carefully when it arrives. The paper pattern itself is the one in the FBISE 50 per cent MCQ pattern.
Common questions
What did FBISE announce about online question papers?
From the First Annual Examinations 2027, an institution must be able to receive question papers online and print them on site to be an FBISE exam centre.
How much does FBISE pay exam centres for printing?
FBISE says it approved Rs 170 a candidate to support printing and stationery costs.
What is the deadline for the implementation report?
1 November 2026, sent to the Controller (Test Administration) or controller.ta@fbise.edu.pk.
What computer does a centre need?
At least a 7th generation Core i5 with Windows 10 or above, plus a duplex printer and a photocopier rated 60 to 90 pages a minute.
Does this apply to Punjab or Sindh board centres?
No. The letter is from FBISE to its own affiliated institutions only.
Will students notice any change?
The paper will still be printed and handed out at the desk. Some students may be moved to a different centre if their school cannot meet the rule.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 20 October 2026. We read FBISE letter No. FBISE/CE(T.A)/2026/333 dated 13 October 2026, on arrangements for online transmission and printing of question papers at exam centres from SSC and HSSC First Annual Examinations 2027, on the FBISE website. The equipment list, the 1 November 2026 date and the Rs 170 rate come from that letter. The 300 and 500 candidate sums are our own arithmetic. We could not confirm whether Rs 170 is paid per paper or per candidate for the whole exam, or how centres will be told the paper is ready.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
