Punjab announces winter vacation for colleges and universities
Pakistan
Punjab announces winter vacations for colleges, universities and schools, with BS four-year degree programmes continuing to function during the December–January break.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The Punjab Higher Education Department has announced winter vacations for colleges and universities across the province, bringing a temporary pause to academic activities amid the colder months.
The decision applies to both public and private sector institutions.
According to an official notification issued on Monday, all colleges and universities will remain closed from December 23, 2025, to January 10, 2026. Academic activities are scheduled to resume shortly after the break, following a brief weekend gap.
The notification clarified that all colleges, both public and private, will reopen on Monday, January 12, 2026, with a return to a full and normal academic week for all classes. The directive applies uniformly across the province, ensuring consistency in the winter academic calendar.
However, the Higher Education Department noted an exception for certain academic programmes. BS four-year degree programmes will continue to function, indicating that teaching or related academic activities under these programmes will not be suspended during the winter vacation period.
In addition, the notification confirmed that all examinations will be conducted according to the previously notified schedules of respective Boards and Universities. Students scheduled to appear in assessments during this period will be required to follow the existing examination timetables without changes.
The announcement for colleges and universities follows an earlier decision by the Punjab government regarding schools. Winter vacations for all public and private schools across the province were announced separately by the provincial education department. Under that notification, schools will observe winter vacations from December 22, 2025, to January 10, 2026. The academic term for schools is set to resume immediately after the break, with institutions reopening on January 10, 2026, marking the restart of regular classes.
The notifications come as seasonal weather conditions typically prompt adjustments to academic schedules across Punjab, particularly during periods of dense fog and lower temperatures that affect daily travel and attendance.
