Punjab announces key updates on school holiday schedule

Rana Sikandar Hayat, Punjab’s Education Minister, has announced that all schools, colleges, and universities in Punjab will reopen on April 1. Institutions will remain closed for holidays until March 31.

The minister clarified that rumors about an extension of school closures are false and urged parents not to follow circulating fake news.

The temporary closure, initially announced on March 9 under the direction of Maryam Nawaz, was a response to economic pressures caused by rising fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. During the closure period, schools were allowed to continue online classes, and scheduled examinations proceeded as planned.

The decision comes as disruptions in global fuel supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, have affected Pakistan and other countries, leading to surges in petroleum prices.