LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday announced early summer vacations for all public and private schools and colleges across the province, as authorities grapple with an intense heatwave.

In a statement from the education ministry, Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat also unveiled revised school timings to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures. Effective May 21, schools will operate from 7:30am to 11:30am until the summer break begins.

The schools and colleges would be closed for summer vacationfrom May 28 till Aug 14. The decision to advance the vacations from the previously scheduled June 1 start date was prompted by `the extreme heatwave in the province like elsewhere in the country,` theministry said.

`Consultations were underway regarding the announcement of the summer vacation and the decision would be made in a few days, Mr Hayat said, referring to discus-sions held prior to the official announcement.

He said, `Efforts were being made to overcome the academic losses due to the closure of schools while ensuring the safety and well-being of students.

Mr Hayat added that `safety instructions had been issued by the departments concerned amid the severity of the heatwave, adding that students could protect themselves from the effects of the blistering weather by following the guidelines.

Despite the general closure, BS four-year programmes will continue according to the academic calendars of their respective universities. Furthermore, all examinations and practical examinations are set to proceed as per the notified schedules of the relevant education boards and universities.

PDMA alert The school closure announcement coincides with broader provincial measures. Earlier, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert regarding rising temperatures and an impending heatwave, with concerns particularly for major cities and plains of Punjab from May 20 to 24.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed has instructed commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain vigilant as temperatures are expected to soar 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal by May 24. The alert targets several departments, including schooleducation,health,transport,localgovernment, and Rescue 1122.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia emphasised preventative measures. `The provision of first aid for heat stroke should be ensured in hospitals and mobile health units,` Mr Kathia said.

`The public will also have to be careful due to the increase in the intensity of heat. Take care to avoid heat waves that work in the afternoon. Wear light-coloured clothes and cover your head. Take special care of children and the elderly and avoid unnecessary travel,` a PDMA statement advised.

The PDMA has also issued specific instructions for livestock markets, calling for temporary sheds, ensured water supply for animals, and the establishment of health and veterinary centres.

Mr Kathia said water sprinklers or misting fans should be installed at all locations to suppress dust in markets.

`Heatwave is likely to continue in the month of June.

Heatwave can be avoided by taking precautionary measures,` Mr Kathia affirmed.

The Met Office corroborated the threat, issuing an advisory for another heatwave from May 20 to 24. This follows a similar advisory issued on May 15.

Warning to private schools The District Education Authority Rawalpindi has issued a stern warning to private schools to close their institutions as mandated.

A senior district administration official told Dawn that there would be zero tolerance against those schools who failed to close schools in warm weather. `Teams had been formed to check the private schools that would be open from May 28,` the official said.

He noted that warnings had been issued, saying, `basically, the private schools wanted to open the schools for 10 and 15 days to collect the fees.

The official confirmed that for the fee issue, `the education authority would be taken the matter seriously` and that private schools had been asked a week prior to distribute summer vacation homework and complete examinations but `were reluctant in order to extend the time to start the vacations.

However, All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association President Ibrar Ahmad Khan `demanded to allow private education institutions to conduct summer camps for a month so that they can complete the ongoing examinations in their educational institutions`.

Aamir Yasin in Rawalpindi also contributed to this report