Punjab Schools to Reopen on April 1, Minister Confirms
By Bilal Haider :
Schools across Punjab will reopen on 1 April, the province’s education minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced on Wednesday, dismissing speculation that the current holidays might be extended.
In a post on X, Mr Hayat confirmed that academic activities at all educational institutions in the province would resume as scheduled next week.
The Punjab government had earlier ordered the closure of schools and colleges from 10 March to 31 March as part of efforts to ease economic pressure, particularly following a sharp rise in petroleum prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Energy Crisis Concerns
The closure came amid concerns over a potential energy crisis triggered by global fuel supply disruptions. Rising oil prices and the impact of instability in the Middle East have prompted authorities to consider a range of energy-saving measures.
Officials had been reviewing possible steps to reduce fuel consumption, including extending school holidays and shortening market operating hours.
Fuel Rationing Proposals
According to sources quoted by Geo News, the Punjab Energy Department recently submitted recommendations to the provincial government outlining several measures to manage limited fuel supplies.
These included a proposal to extend school closures until 15 April and introduce a hybrid learning model to lower electricity consumption in the education sector.
The department also suggested introducing a coupon-based or digital system to regulate the distribution of petrol and diesel, alongside limiting fuel supply to vehicles on specific days as part of wider rationing efforts.
Despite these proposals, the education minister’s announcement confirms that schools will reopen as planned at the start of April.
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