Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Friday dismissed reports circulating on social media about an extension in winter vacations across the province, calling them false and misleading.
As cold weather continues to grip much of Punjab, rumours had surfaced online suggesting that the winter holidays, which are scheduled to end this week, might be extended. However, in a statement posted on X, the minister clarified that all schools and colleges will reopen on Monday, January 12, in line with the previously announced schedule.
He said the notification being shared on social media regarding an extension of winter vacations was fake and stressed that the Education Department had not issued any such directive. “There is no extension in winter vacations for educational institutions in Punjab,” he said, urging the public to avoid spreading or believing unverified information.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast cold and dry weather over most parts of the country during the next 12 hours, with very cold conditions expected in hilly areas. Moderate to dense fog is likely to persist in parts of Punjab, upper Sindh and the plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while frost may occur at isolated places in the Potohar region and Kashmir during the morning hours.
Temperatures recorded in major cities on Friday morning included Islamabad and Peshawar at three degrees Celsius, Lahore at nine, Karachi at eleven, Quetta at minus three, Gilgit at minus four, Murree at zero and Muzaffarabad at four degrees Celsius.
