Winter vacations announced: Schools across Pakistan to close from next week

ISLAMABAD: Having eagerly awaited this winter break, students from across the country are all excited to welcome winter vacations in their schools from next week onwards. All provinces, except Punjab, have announced winter vacations.

Federal Capital

Islamabad, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), is now expected to announce its winter vacation schedule very soon. Traditionally, schools in the capital are given a week off during freezing cold winter.

So, this year winter vacations are expected to be announced between December 22, 2024 and December 29, 2024, with the reopening being conducted on December 30, 2024.

However, this may get extended until December 31 with the schools reopening January 1, 2025. The private schools in Islamabad have separately announced winter vacation from December 20, 2024, to January 6, 2025.

Punjab

Earlier, the Education Department in Punjab had announced the winter vacations to be held from December 20, 2024, to January 10, 2025, yet no official orders have been issued thus far.

The provincial education minister hinted at possibly changing the winter vacation schedule to accommodate the unusually prolonged winter; however, the department has not issued any formal orders regarding the schedule change.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued official announcements about the winter break schedule. In case of said plains, schools will be closed from December 22-April 1, 2024. In the mountainous regions, an extend vacation will be observed owing to terrible weather conditions. That is December 22-February 28, 2025.

Balochistan

The Balochistan government has announced winter breaks for educational institutions in the province. According to the notification, winter holidays in the cold regions will be from December 16, 2024, to February 28, 2025, with schools resuming their activities on March 1, 2025. In the meantime, the warm regions will enjoy the winter vacation from January 1 to January 10, 2025.

Already, the government in Sindh has arrived at a promise regarding its final winter vacation program. Schools will remain closed in the province from Sunday,, December 22, to Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

Educational institutions will reopen on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. This decision was approved by the Sindh Education Department’s steering committee.