Punjab likely to extend winter vacations after public poll

LAHORE : The Punjab government is likely to extend winter vacations for schools as a large majority of people voted in favour of an extension due to the ongoing cold wave.

Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat recently held an online poll on Facebook to get public opinion. The poll was started after concerns were raised over his earlier statement that winter holidays would not be extended.

The poll asked parents and teachers when schools and colleges should reopen. According to the results, 86 percent of participants supported reopening educational institutions on January 19, 2026. Meanwhile, 14 percent were in favour of reopening on January 12, 2026.

The education minister said the purpose of the poll was to make sure the government’s decision matches the wishes and concerns of the public. He added that a final decision would be announced soon after reviewing the poll results and other factors related to the education sector.

A day earlier, Rana Sikandar Hayat had rejected reports about extending winter vacations. He said that schools and colleges would reopen as per schedule. He also shared a message on social media platform X, saying, “Schools & Colleges will Open on The 12th of January Inshallah,” and asked people to avoid fake news.

Meanwhile, a severe cold wave continues across many cities in Punjab, including Rawalpindi. This has increased concerns among parents as winter holidays are about to end.

Due to very low temperatures, parents are finding it difficult to send their children to school early in the morning. Many fear that the cold weather could affect their children’s health, especially younger students.

The Meteorological Department has also predicted a further drop in temperatures in the coming days, along with cold winds and fog, which may worsen the situation.

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