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

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. A second fake notice saying public and private colleges and universities would shut was rejected by the Punjab Higher Education Department, ProPakistani reported.

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).

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).
• 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.