Punjab Reviews Winter Vacation Extension Amid Severe Cold

LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Saturday convened a meeting to review the possibility of extending winter vacations in schools amid growing demands from parents and teachers due to the ongoing cold weather across the province.

With temperatures continuing to fall, parents and teachers have urged the provincial government to extend the winter break, citing concerns over children’s health and safety. Reports circulating on social media have also suggested that winter vacations in educational institutions may be extended by a week; however, no official announcement has been made so far.

According to sources, the education minister has called a meeting at 3:00 pm today to assess the situation, with a final decision to be taken after reviewing reports from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

Speaking on the matter, Rana Sikandar Hayat said that children’s health remains the government’s top priority. He added that parents have formally conveyed their concerns and demanded an extension due to the severity of the cold weather.

Read More: Punjab Launches Green Property Certificate System in Eight Districts to Secure Land Ownership

The minister clarified that any decision regarding the extension of winter vacations will be announced through an official notification after the meeting.

Winter holidays are currently scheduled to end this week. A day earlier, Rana Sikandar Hayat had dismissed claims circulating on social media regarding an extension, stating that schools and colleges would reopen on January 12 (Monday) as per schedule.

“There is no extension in winter vacations for educational institutions in Punjab,” the minister said in a statement posted on X.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has forecast cold and dry weather over most parts of the country, with very cold conditions in hilly areas. Moderate to dense fog is expected to persist over Punjab, upper Sindh, and plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while frost may occur at isolated places in the Potohar region and Kashmir during morning hours.