Punjab Government Says Early Summer Vacations for Schools Amid Scorching Heatwave|2025

 LAHORE, May 20—Early Summer Vacations for Schools have been announced. Punjab’s Minister of Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, formally announced that summer vacations for all educational institutions in the province will begin on May 28 due to the increasing heatwave affecting the region. 

The Punjab Education Ministry issued the announcement as temperatures continue to climb to dangerous levels. Originally planned to start on June 1, the holidays have been pushed forward to prioritize students’ and teachers’ health and safety.

“Given the severity of the ongoing heatwave, we have decided to begin the summer break a few days earlier than planned,” stated Minister Hayat. “Our priority is the well-being of students. We are committed to minimizing academic disruption while ensuring their safety. 

Revised school timings are effective May 21. 

In addition to announcing early vacations, the minister also revealed updated school hours aimed at minimizing exposure to extreme daytime heat. Starting May 21, all schools across Punjab will operate from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM until the summer break begins.

Precautionary Measures and Safety Guidelines before summer vacations

Working with the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the Punjab government has sent a series of safety instructions to protect staff and pupils. These include: 

• Suspension of all outdoor sports, among other activities.
•  Provision of fresh, cold drinking water at every learning establishment. 
•  Making sure classrooms have correctly working fans or cooling equipment, as well as ventilation. 
• Encourage pupils to keep cool by wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia formally communicated these directives through an advisory sent to the School Education and Higher Education Departments across the province.

Government Urged to Act Swiftly

Officials had been under mounting pressure from health experts and parents to act swiftly as weather forecasts indicated dangerously high temperatures. Just last month, schools were advised to adjust operational hours and prepare for the possibility of early closures should the heatwave persist. 

New Heatwave Expected: May 20 to May 24

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of a fresh wave of extreme heat beginning May 20 through May 24. According to the PMD, a high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere will push daytime temperatures 4 to 7°C above normal, particularly impacting Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan. Meanwhile, we expect significantly above-average temperatures in central and northern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“A shallow trough of a westerly wave is currently influencing the upper regions,” the PMD stated. We expect the weather system to persist for several days, intensifying the risk of heat-related illnesses. 

Public Health and Safety

First Minister Hayat emphasized that student health remains the cornerstone of all policy decisions, especially during such extreme weather events. “We urge parents, teachers, and school administrators to remain vigilant and adhere to all safety advisories. Let’s work together to keep our children safe during this challenging time,” he added.

 With extreme temperatures now a recurring pattern, this early vacation indicates an important move by the Punjab government to protect its young population.

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