Punjab School Education Dept yet to Announce 2026 Winter Holidays

What Happened

Students and parents across Punjab are waiting for the winter vacation schedule for 2026, as colder weather begins to affect several parts of the province. According to ProPakistani, the Punjab government had not yet issued any notification or update on the upcoming winter holidays when it reported on 9 November.

The Pakistan Observer also reported on the expected schedule, noting that Punjab schools traditionally remain closed for around 10 to 20 days during winter. Punjab authorities usually announce winter vacations to protect schoolchildren from harsh weather, including cold temperatures, fog and chilly morning winds.

The two reports give different expected dates for 2026:

• ProPakistani says that, based on last year’s dates, schools could close around 22 December [1].
• The Pakistan Observer says that, based on the previous year’s schedule, winter vacations are expected to begin on 21 December 2026, a Monday, and continue until 10 January 2027. Schools would then reopen on 11 January 2027, also a Monday [2].

Both reports say the final dates and duration will be set through an official announcement by the Punjab government [1][2].

The 2025-26 break followed a notification from the Punjab School Education Department on 4 December 2025. That notice announced holidays for all public and private schools from 22 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 [1]. The Pakistan Observer also reports that the province announced winter vacations for all schools from 22 December 2025 to 10 January 2026 [2].

The government later extended that break because of severe cold waves and adverse weather conditions. In a notification issued on 10 January 2026, the department extended the holidays until 18 January and directed schools to reopen on 19 January [1].

Weather is also a factor. The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s forecast of 9 November warned of fog and smog in several Punjab districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan, particularly during morning hours. ProPakistani notes that weather conditions could influence the holiday schedule, but the government has not announced any decision on winter vacations for 2026 [1].

Who Is Affected

The break affects students, parents and schools across Punjab. The 2025 notification covered all public and private schools in the province [1][2].