LAHORE – The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has announced a change in the schedule for its partner schools, introducing a Saturday holiday.
Previously, schools under PEF did not have Saturdays off along with Sunday. Following the latest announcement, the school students will enjoy two holidays in a week.
In addition to this, the working hours for these schools have been adjusted. The new school timings will now be from 8:45 am to 1:30 pm, with Fridays concluding at 12:30 pm.
The updated schedule will remain in effect until April 15, 2026.
Last month, the Punjab School Education Department had announced revised timings for government schools across the province in response to worsening smog conditions.
According to the official notification, from Monday to Thursday, schools will operate from 8:45 am to 1:30 pm, while on Fridays, classes will run from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 pm.
The decision follows an earlier statement by Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, who had indicated through social media that school hours would be adjusted to ensure student safety amid deteriorating air quality.
Meanwhile, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had said that wind patterns coming from India contribute to Lahore’s high pollution levels. She added that the government has implemented several strict measures to reduce smog and protect public health.
Air quality in many central districts of Punjab, including Lahore, has reached hazardous levels, making it dangerous to breathe outdoors.
