# Punjab schools open on Monday 12 October: holiday notice is fake, but KP closures in Peshawar, Malakand and Lower Dir

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/education/punjab-schools-open-on-monday-12-october-holiday-notice-is-fake-but-kp-closures)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 12 Oct 2026
Updated: 12 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 12 Oct 2026

> Punjab's school and higher education departments say no closure was ordered. Several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have shut schools and postponed exams.

**Schools, colleges and universities across Punjab are open as usual on Monday 12 October 2026.** A notification that went viral on Sunday claiming Punjab's educational institutions would close on Monday is fake, the **Punjab School Education Department** said through its spokesperson, adding that "no decision had been taken" to close institutions across the province, [Geo News reported](https://www.geo.tv/latest/686094-punjab-schools-to-open-monday-as-education-departments-debunk-fake-holiday-notice). A second fake notice saying public and private colleges and universities would shut was rejected by the **Punjab Higher Education Department**, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/11/punjab-clarifies-viral-colleges-and-universities-holiday-notification/).

The fakes spread on the day the federal government imposed emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when several KP districts really did close schools. That is why a Punjab holiday looked believable to many parents.

## Punjab school holiday 12 October: what applies

- **Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and every other Punjab district:** normal timings on Monday. No province-wide closure has been notified.
- **Colleges and universities:** open, including private institutions.
- **Weather:** the Met Office expects rain, wind and hail at places in upper and central Punjab today, so plan the school run with extra time ([weather today](/news/pakistan/weather-tomorrow-rain-wind-and-hail-in-islamabad-lahore-and-kp-on-6-and-7)).

## Where schools are actually closed

The real closures are in **Khyber Pakhtunkhwa**, according to Geo News:

- **Peshawar:** all public and private educational institutions closed on Monday ([full notification details](/news/education/peshawar-holiday-on-monday-12-october-all-schools-colleges-and-universities)).
- **Malakand:** all public and private schools and colleges closed for two days.
- **Lower Dir:** all public and private schools, colleges and universities closed on **12 and 13 October**.
- **Exams:** **BISE Bannu** and **BISE Malakand** have postponed SSC Annual-II papers until further notice. Candidates should follow their board's official website for new dates.

## How to check a holiday notice before you believe it

1. **Look for the source.** A real Punjab notice comes from the School Education Department, the Higher Education Department or a deputy commissioner, and is posted on their official websites or verified social media accounts.
2. **Check the reference number and signature.** Fakes often reuse an old notification with a new date typed over it.
3. **Ask the school.** Your child's school or the district education authority (CEO Education) will confirm any closure the same day.
4. **Do not forward it** until it is confirmed: fake notices spread fastest in parent WhatsApp groups.

If a closure is announced later in the week, especially around the weather, it will come from the district administration or the education department, and we will update this page.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is there a holiday in Punjab schools on 12 October 2026?**

No. The Punjab School Education Department said no decision was taken to close educational institutions, and schools, colleges and universities open as usual on Monday 12 October 2026.

**Which areas have closed schools on 12 October?**

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar (all institutions on Monday), Malakand (schools and colleges for two days) and Lower Dir (schools, colleges and universities on 12 and 13 October), according to Geo News.

## Sources

- All Punjab schools to remain open Monday as authorities debunk fake holiday notice (11 Oct 2026) (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/686094-punjab-schools-to-open-monday-as-education-departments-debunk-fake-holiday-notice
- Punjab Clarifies Viral Colleges and Universities Holiday Notification (11 Oct 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/11/punjab-clarifies-viral-colleges-and-universities-holiday-notification/

How to cite: "Punjab schools open on Monday 12 October: holiday notice is fake, but KP closures in Peshawar, Malakand and Lower Dir", Searchable, 12 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/education/punjab-schools-open-on-monday-12-october-holiday-notice-is-fake-but-kp-closures