Allama Iqbal Open University was established in:

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) was established in 1974. AIOU holds the distinction of being the first open university in Asia, founded with the vision to provide accessible and affordable education to all, especially those who cannot attend traditional on-campus institutions. It plays a pivotal role in distance learning.

• Option B (1972) is incorrect; the university was established two years later.
• Option C (1980) is incorrect, as AIOU was already well-established by this time.
• Option D (1984) is also incorrect, significantly past its founding year.

The establishment of AIOU revolutionized access to higher education through its innovative distance education model.