In response to severe heatwaves forecasted to impact much of the country in the next 10 days, summer vacations in Punjab announced by the government and timings has been shortened for both public and private schools from 18th May to 31th May 2024.
The Meteorological Department recently warned that a high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere would trigger heatwave conditions across most regions, particularly in Punjab and Sindh, starting May 21. A more intense heatwave is expected from May 23 to May 27, with daytime temperatures predicted to soar 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal from May 21 to May 23 and 6 to 8 degrees Celsius from May 23 to May 27. Residents are advised to minimize direct sunlight exposure and stay hydrated.
A notification from the Punjab School Education Department stated that due to the extreme weather, school hours from 18th May to 31th May will be adjusted as follows:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday – 7 AM to 11:30 AM
Friday – 7 AM to 10 AM
Punjab Minister for School Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, highlighted the urgent need for climate action, stressing that everyone has a crucial role in mitigating climate change effects.
Moreover, in a separate notification, it is announced that all public and private schools in Punjab will be closed from 1st June to 14th August 2024 for summer vacations, with the new school year commencing on 15th of August 2024.
