“…All the public and private schools throughout Punjab shall remain closed with effect from Saturday 1st June, 2024 to Wednesday 14th August, 2024 for summer vacation. All schools in the province shall reopen with effect from Thursday 15th August, 2024,” reads a notification issued by the School Education Department on Friday.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat had hinted at early summer vacations, saying that the Department of School Education would make a decision regarding the summer vacation after evaluating the ongoing heatwave's intensity.
The early summer vacation announcement came a day after the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast that due to the presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, heatwave-like conditions are likely to develop over most parts of the country, especially Punjab and Sindh from May 21 and likely to convert to severe heatwave-like conditions from May 23 to 27.
The PMD further stated that day temperatures are likely to remain 04 to 06°C above normal in Sindh and Punjab from 21st to 23rd and from 06 to 08°C from 23rd to 27th May. Day temperatures are likely to remain 04 to 06°C above normal in Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan from 21st to 27th May.
Regarding Punjab/Islamabad, the Met office forecast duststorm/thunderstorm with isolated rain is expected in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Mianwali from 16th (evening) to 18th May.
Earlier, the government announced a change in the operational hours of educational institutions to protect students and staff from the extreme temperatures.
All the schools in the province were directed to implement necessary measures to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for students. These measures include proper function if all fans and availability of water coolers. Additionally, schools are instructed to prevent students from staying in open spaces or lawns during school hours to avoid direct exposure to the sun.
