LAHORE – The Punjab government has announced revised school timings as smog and air pollution continue to worsen across the province. The change aims to protect students, teachers, and staff from health risks caused by poor air quality.
The new school timings will come into effect from Monday, October 27, 2025, and will remain in place until April 15, 2026. The Education Department made the decision after Lahore, Faisalabad, and several other cities recorded extremely high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, with Lahore exceeding 500 — marking it as one of the world’s most polluted cities for three consecutive days.
For students, the winter school timings will now start at 8:45 AM and end at 1:30 PM. The Education Minister stated that the shift was necessary to minimize early-morning exposure to smog, which poses serious health risks, especially to children.
The Punjab School Education Department also issued new working hours for teachers. From Monday to Thursday, teachers will report to schools at 8:30 AM and finish at 2:00 PM. On Fridays, working hours will be shortened from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
For schools operating in double shifts, the morning session will run from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM (Monday to Thursday) and from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Fridays.
The afternoon shift will begin at 12:45 PM and end at 4:00 PM during weekdays, while Friday’s timing will be from 1:45 PM to 4:00 PM. Alternate Saturdays will have classes from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
In other news read more about Punjab Schools Revise Winter Timings Amid Smog to Protect Students’ Health
Officials emphasized that these revised school timings are temporary and will be reviewed based on weather and pollution conditions. The government has urged parents and teachers to ensure children wear masks and avoid outdoor activities during high smog hours.
