LAHORE: Punjab government has announced winter vacations in schools across the province from December 23, defying a National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decision.
The announcement was made by the Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas from his Twitter handle.
He announced that all public and private schools of Punjab will remain closed for winter vacation starting December 23rd, 2021 to January 6th, 2022. “Please get vaccinated and follow SOPs issued by the government,” the education minister stressed.
ANNOUNCEMENT
All Public & Private Schools of Punjab to remain closed for winter vacation starting December 23rd, 2021 to January 6th, 2022. Please get vaccinated and follow SOPs issued by the government.— Murad Raas (@DrMuradPTI) December 17, 2021
The announcement came after the Punjab government earlier today assured the Lahore High Court (LHC) that schools will be closed from December 23 to the first week of January.
The assurance was made during the hearing of the environmental pollution and smog case in the LHC presided over by Justice Shahid Karim.
The lawyer of the government apprised the LHC bench about the closure of the educational institutions in the Punjab province.
The court after adjourning the hearing of the case until December 21, asked the government authorities to present the notification regarding winter vacations.
Meanwhile, the decision by the Punjab government was in defiance of the NCOC that earlier in the day announced that winter vacations in all educational institutions will begin from Jan 3, 2022.
The decision to this effect was reached during a meeting presided over by NCOC head Asad Umar. Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan were in attendance in the meeting.
“During today’s NCOC session, it is decided that Winter vacation in education sector will start from 3rd January 22 apart from Fog / Smog hit districts of Pakistan. Federating units will issue notifications accordingly,” the country’s nerve centre for Covid response said in a Twitter statement.
