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LAHORE: Punjab Minister for School and Higher Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, announced on Wednesday that all public and private schools, colleges, and universities across the province would remain closed on Fridays, with classes taking place four days a week.
“Pursuant to the approval of the competent authority, it is hereby notified that all public and private educational institutions in Punjab shall remain closed on Fridays until further orders,” stated a notification issued by the Punjab School Education Department and shared by Mr Hayat on X.
However, the notification did not mention the reason behind this decision. It also specified the opening and closing hours of public schools.
Under the new schedule, schools operating on a single shift will run from Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 1:30pm.
Meanwhile, schools with double shifts will hold the morning session from 8am to 12:30pm, and the afternoon session from 1pm to 5:30pm.
The Punjab Higher Education Department also issued a notification regarding a four-day working week in public and private higher education institutions.
“It is hereby notified that all public and private colleges and universities across Punjab shall observe four working days [Monday to Thursday] of on-campus learning until further orders,” stated a notification available with Dawn.
Punjab School Education Department Secretary Muddassir Riaz Malik confirmed to Dawn that educational institutions would remain closed on Fridays.
This development comes on the same day that educational activities in the province resumed following a break amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the US–Israel war on Iran.
However, the government had earlier stated that classes would take place five days a week.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Punjab education minister welcomed students back to schools, colleges, and universities, announcing that academic activities had resumed as usual.
In the statement released earlier in the day, the minister had said that educational activities would take place five days a week.
The minister emphasised the need to collectively overcome challenges and obstacles in the education sector, adding that policies would be revised to compensate for academic losses.
He further said consultations were underway to devise a new strategy to minimise educational disruptions in the future.
Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026
