The Punjab School Education Department has officially announced that summer vacations for all schools in Punjab will start on June 1, 2025, according to a report by ARY News.
In a notification issued by the department, it was stated that all schools across Punjab will be closed from June 1 onwards. This decision was made because the temperature is rising quickly in many parts of the province, making it harder for students and teachers to continue their activities safely.
Khalid Nazir Wattoo, who is the Secretary of School Education, shared more details with the media. He said that while June 1 is the official date for the vacations to begin, there is a chance that the schedule could be changed if the heat becomes even more intense.
“If the temperatures rise unusually fast, we may decide to start the summer vacations a week earlier,” he explained. He also stressed that the health and safety of students, teachers, and parents are the top priorities. According to him, extreme heat can badly affect academic activities and make it unsafe for children to attend school.
Wattoo further mentioned that climate change is having a serious effect on the country. He said that Pakistan is already facing problems because of changing weather patterns, such as more frequent heatwaves, floods, and other natural disasters. This, he said, is why schools have to stay flexible with their schedules to protect everyone.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning about a heatwave yesterday. They said that very high temperatures are expected across Pakistan from April 26 to April 30. This sudden rise in heat is happening because a high-pressure system is forming in the upper atmosphere.
The weather experts said that this system will start to develop on April 26 (which is today) and will cover most parts of the country by April 27. As a result, daytime temperatures are expected to rise sharply.
According to the PMD, southern regions of Pakistan — including Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan — will experience temperatures that are 5 to 7 degrees Celsius higher than normal between April 26 and May 1.
At the same time, the central and northern regions — like central Punjab, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan — will see temperatures that are 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above normal from April 27 to April 30.
Because of these conditions, the PMD strongly advised the general public, especially children, women, and elderly people, to stay out of direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. They also recommended drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid illnesses like heatstroke.
Farmers were also given special advice. They were asked to plan their wheat harvesting activities carefully and to make sure their livestock are protected from the heat. In the northern areas, where there is still snow, rising temperatures could cause the snow to melt faster between April 27 and May 1, possibly leading to floods.
Authorities also urged all citizens to use water carefully and avoid wasting it. This is important because high temperatures can lead to water shortages.
Finally, the PMD warned that strong winds, dust storms, and lightning might occur on April 30 and May 1. These weather events could damage electric poles, trees, vehicles, and solar panels, so people are advised to take extra precautions during those days.
READ MORE: Intermediate Exams Postponed in Mirpurkhas: New Dates Announced
