Punjab schools to face action for violating new timing rules

LAHORE: Educational institutions across the province will be fined up to one million rupees if they do not follow the new school hours.

All government and private schools in the province will not open before 9:45 am.

In this regard, DG Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh has also issued an official notification regarding the change in the working hours of schools.

The notification states that schools will not be allowed to open before 8:45 am.

This decision has been taken in view of the increasing environmental pollution and smog situation in the province.

DG Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh said that the new timings are effective immediately, and the relevant school administration will be fined between five and one million rupees for violating them.

He said that violations of school timings or complaints can be reported through the EPA Helpline 1373 or the Green Punjab app.

Winter School Timing in Punjab

Earlier, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, on his official Facebook page, stated that the schools in the province will follow new timings during the winter season.

Schools will start at 8:45 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. under the new schedule, said the minister. This is a move to provide safety and comfort to students from chilly mornings, especially as temperatures keep decreasing throughout Punjab.

Though the formal order is yet to be published, it is expected to be done soon by the Punjab School Education Department. When notified, the new timings shall be implemented with immediate effect.

The minister has been quite active in posting updates regarding reforms in education and administrative decisions on his social media pages, keeping parents and teachers posted in real time.

The new schedule mimics the same adjustments that were made in the past when the school timetables were pushed back so that children could avoid the cold mornings.