The prestigious IITs, which are planning for the first time to hold entrance tests abroad including in SAARC nations, will not do so in neighbouring Pakistan, at least for the upcoming year.

While preparations are underway for conducting entrance tests in other SAARC countries and also in Singapore and the UAE for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, Pakistan will not figure in the list, sources told PTI.

"Considering various factors, especially difficulties involved with regard to students procuring visas, it has been decided that entrance tests for IITs may not be conducted in Pakistan for the upcoming year," a senior official said.

Earlier, it had been decided that to attract more talent, the coveted IITs would hold tests in countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia in Africa, Singapore and Dubai (UAE) next year onwards.

Officials had held that seats to be offered to foreign nationals would be additional in nature and would not reduce those available to Indian nationals at the IITs.

While the test is to be held in 2017, the outreach programme for the exercise would be conducted earlier.