New school timings announced for Punjab schools

The Punjab government has announced a return to normal school timings starting December 4, 2024, following a reduction in smog levels across the province.

Schools will now open at 8:15 am, as per the new directive issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab.

This decision comes after school timings were delayed to 8:45 am on November 18 in response to worsening air quality due to smog.

However, with an improvement in air quality, the EPA Punjab has issued a notification to revert to the regular schedule.

The notification mandates that all public and private schools in Punjab open at 8:15 am. The directive, issued under the Environmental Protection Act of 1997, requires immediate compliance.

Schools that fail to adhere to the new timings will face legal action, including fines and penalties, as warned by Imran Hamed Sheikh, the Director-General of Environment.

The government has instructed all commissioners and deputy commissioners in the province to ensure full implementation of the new timings, with a focus on safeguarding the health of students and teachers while minimizing disruption to education.