The Punjab government has officially announced the much-awaited winter vacation schedule for all schools across the province. In a notification issued yesterday, Thursday, the provincial Education Department confirmed that schools will close later this month to help students cope with the dropping temperatures.
In addition to the holidays, Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced a major relief regarding the upcoming board examinations.
According to the official notification, winter vacations in all public and private schools across Punjab will begin on December 22, 2025.
The notification further states that schools are set to reopen on January 10, 2026, marking the restart of the academic term. Students and parents should mark their calendars accordingly to prepare for the break and the subsequent return to classes.
In a significant development for students, Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat took to social media to announce a shift in the examination schedule. The minister declared that both Matriculation and Intermediate examinations will now be held after Eid-ul-Fitr.
Previously, the matric exams were scheduled to commence on March 3, while the intermediate exam dates were still under consideration. This postponement offers students extra time to prepare, as both major exams will now follow the Eid holidays.
This announcement follows earlier measures taken by the Punjab School Education Department to combat worsening smog. In October, the department revised school timings to protect students’ health.
Under the current schedule, schools start daily at 08:45 AM. Classes conclude at 01:30 PM from Monday to Thursday, while on Fridays, schools close at 12:30 PM. These timings remain effective as the province transitions into the winter break.
| Day(s) | Opening Time | Closing Time |
| Monday – Thursday | 08:45 AM | 01:30 PM |
| Friday | 08:45 AM | 12:30 PM |