Punjab winter school timings 2026: 8:45am to 1:30pm from 16 October, Friday until 12:30pm

Punjab winter school timings for 2026 start on Friday 16 October: single-shift public schools will open at 8:45am and close at 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday, and at 12:30pm on Fridays. The School Education Department issued the notification on Wednesday 14 October, signed by School Education Secretary Muddassir Riaz Malik, ProPakistani reported. The schedule stays in force until 31 March 2027.

The new timings at a glance

Who it covers

The notification applies to all public schools across Punjab, from Lahore and Rawalpindi to Multan, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur. It does not set timings separately for primary, middle and high schools; the split is only between single-shift and double-shift schools. Private schools usually follow their own calendars, so parents should check with the school.

Girls' schools and local changes

District education officers may adjust the 15-minute gap between opening and closing times at girls' schools to suit local conditions, the notification says, so a girls' school near a boys' school may open or close a quarter of an hour apart. Chief executive officers of the district education authorities are responsible for making sure schools follow the new hours.

What parents should do

• From Friday 16 October, plan pick-ups for 12:30pm on Fridays and 1:30pm on other weekdays at single-shift schools.
• Double-shift families: the second shift now starts at 1:30pm (2pm on Friday) and ends at 4:30pm, which means a later finish as days get shorter.
• Van and rickshaw services: confirm new pick-up times with your driver this week.

The later start reflects colder, foggier mornings across Punjab in winter, when visibility on roads in the early hours can be poor. The notification sets 31 March 2027 as the last day of the winter schedule.

For more on schooling and exams in Pakistan, see our education guides.