Punjab extends winter vacations to Jan 19 as Sindh revises school timings amid severe cold

• Education Minister Rana Sikander says Punjab schools, colleges to reopen Monday, Jan 19 after cold wave
• Minister confirms decision following X poll feedback after fake notifications earlier created confusion
• Sindh schools to start at 9am until Jan 26 due to low temperatures, as Met Office forecasts cold, dry weather and dense fog in several districts

LAHORE/KARACHI: Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Saturday announced the extension of winter vacations for all public and private schools in Punjab until January 19 due to “extremely low temperatures,” while the Sindh government issued revised school timings across the province in view of the “prevailing cold weather.”

The decision comes a day after Minister Hayat denied circulating rumors and fake news on social media about the extension of holidays, reaffirming that schools would reopen on January 12.

However, the minister later conducted a poll on his X account, asking users whether schools and colleges should reopen on January 12 or 19, with the majority voting in favor of January 19.

In his latest post today on X, Hayat said, “In view of the prolonged severe winter spell and the forecast of extremely low temperatures in the coming days, and on the advice of PDMA, the Government of Punjab has decided to extend winter vacations until January 19.”

In view of the prolonged severe winter spell and the forecast of extremely low temperatures in the coming days, and on the advice of PDMA, the Government of Punjab has decided to extend winter vacations till 19th January for all Government and Private schools across the province,…

— Rana Sikandar Hayat (@RanaSikandarH) January 10, 2026

 Meanwhile, the Punjab Higher Education Department issued a separate notification extending winter vacations for higher education institutions from January 10 to January 16 due to the severe weather.

“All colleges (public and private) shall re-open on Monday, January 19, 2026, resuming [the] full/normal week for all classes,” the notification, available with Dawn, read.

It added that BS four-year programmes would continue as scheduled, and all examinations would be held according to the notified schedules of boards and universities.

Earlier, the Punjab government had initially announced winter vacations for all public and private schools and colleges from December 22 to January 10. Earlier this week, a fake notification claiming to be issued by the Punjab School Education Department went viral on social media, spreading confusion among parents and students. The false notice had stated that “due to severe weather conditions,” vacations were extended until January 17, with schools reopening on January 19.

Sindh government announces new school timings until January 26

In related development, the Sindh government on Saturday notified adjusted school timings for all educational institutions in the province in view of the cold spell.

A weather advisory from the Met Office forecast cold and dry weather across most districts of Sindh, with minimum temperatures around 9ºC and maximum reaching 25ºC.

The advisory also warned: “Moderate to dense fog is likely to persist over Sukkur, Rohri, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Larkana, Tando Jam, Mohenjodaro and surrounding areas.”

According to a notification, all public and private educational institutions in Sindh will open at 9:00am from January 12 (Monday) until January 26. The revised timings will apply to institutions under the administrative control of the School Education and Literacy Department, while school closing times will remain unchanged.

The decision was taken after Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah consulted Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, aiming to ensure students’ safety during the cold wave while keeping academic schedules on track.