A notification circulating widely on social media has sparked confusion among parents and students by claiming that the Punjab government has extended winter vacations in all public and private schools due to severe weather conditions.

The viral document states that school holidays have been extended from January 10 to January 17, 2026, and that educational institutions will reopen on January 19. It also directs district education authorities to ensure strict compliance with the alleged orders. However, this notification has not been verified by any official government source.

So far, no formal announcement has been issued by the Punjab government regarding an extension of winter vacations. The School Education Department has also not uploaded any such notification on its official platforms, raising serious doubts about the authenticity of the circulating document.

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Education-related decisions in Punjab are typically communicated through official notifications, press releases, or statements by the provincial education leadership. In recent days, speculation around winter vacations prompted Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat to respond publicly and reject reports of any extension.

Earlier this week, the minister clearly stated that schools and colleges will reopen as per the existing schedule and warned the public against spreading or believing unverified information. In his message, he said: “School & College Holidays Will NOT Be Extended. Please avoid fake news.”

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As of now, there has been no change to the winter vacation schedule in Punjab. Parents, students, and school administrations have been strongly advised to rely only on official government channels for accurate and timely updates, and to avoid misinformation circulating on social media.