Soaring temperatures and Eid holidays prompt authorities to consider closing schools from May 27. Punjab is likely to announce early summer vacations for schools. Soaring temperatures and ongoing heatwave conditions are impacting students across the province. Academic activities have already been disrupted. Authorities are now reviewing the situation closely. A formal decision is expected soon. If temperatures continue to rise in the coming days, schools will close earlier than planned.
PDMA Issues Heatwave Warning
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a clear warning. Temperatures across most districts will remain above seasonal averages. The warning covers May, June, and July. Between May 7 and May 11, a heatwave is highly possible. Authorities have urged schools and parents to take precautions. Extreme weather conditions could create serious health risks for students and teachers.
This is not a minor concern. Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Limited resources make adaptation difficult .
Expected Dates for Summer Vacation: May 27 or June 1?
Traditionally, summer holidays in Punjab begin on June 1. But this year is different. Eid ul Adha holidays are expected from May 27 to May 29. Since May 30 and May 31 fall on the weekend, the break becomes even longer. Education authorities are now considering a shift. They may start summer vacations from May 27 instead of June 1. This adjustment would combine the Eid holidays with the summer break seamlessly. A final notification has not been issued yet. Consultations are ongoing. Officials are assessing weather patterns and academic requirements before making an announcement.
Why Early Closure Makes Sense
The reasons for early closure are compelling. First, student safety is the top priority. Classrooms across Punjab often lack proper cooling systems, ventilation, and clean drinking water.
Second, the health risks are real. In January 2026, two government school students died of heatstroke in Punjab. An eighth-grade student in Haroonabad suffered a fatal heart attack caused by extreme heat. Another student in Mankera died while playing football in similar conditions.
These tragedies prompted Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to act. After consultations, the government announced early summer vacations starting May 28 for that academic year.
Third, the learning environment itself suffers. Students struggle to concentrate in sweltering classrooms. One student described the experience vividly. “The class becomes so hot that it feels like we are sitting in a brick kiln,” said 17-year-old Hafiz Ehtesham from Lahore .
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has proposed broader changes. He wants to restructure the academic calendar entirely. The proposal includes reducing both summer and winter vacations. This would compensate for learning losses caused by climate-related closures .
More Links!
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Gives Lahore Police a New Look: Netizens Compare it to London Cops
School Closures in Punjab: The Official Notification by Rana Sikandar Hayat!
