Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat declared on Wednesday that all schools in the province will reopen on April 1, dismissing any possibility of extending the current holiday period. The announcement was made through a post on X, confirming the restart of academic sessions across Punjab’s educational institutions.
Earlier in March, the provincial government had ordered the closure of schools from March 10 to 31 as part of efforts to alleviate economic strain caused by the sharp increase in petroleum prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. During this period, authorities considered various strategies to address the emerging energy crisis, including prolonging school holidays and shortening market operating hours to reduce fuel consumption.
In a significant development, the Punjab Energy Department submitted several recommendations to the provincial government aimed at managing limited fuel resources. These proposals included extending school closures until April 15 and adopting a hybrid learning model to decrease energy use within the education sector. Additionally, the department suggested implementing a coupon-based or digital system to ensure fair distribution of petrol and diesel, alongside restricting fuel supply to vehicles on specific days as part of broader rationing measures.
