Punjab Plans Early School Closures for Summer

With temperatures in Punjab hitting dangerous highs, educational institutions are being called to action. The PDMA heat alert issued this week outlines crucial steps to protect school communities from the effects of prolonged heat exposure.

The advisory urges schools and colleges to adjust daily schedules, ensuring students are not in classrooms during the peak heat hours, typically between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. In extreme cases, the government may initiate early closure for summer holidays to minimize exposure.

The PDMA’s recommendations for Schools and Colleges administrators include:

Installing or maintaining clean water stations across campuses

Promoting heat-appropriate dress codes like cotton-based clothing

Conducting awareness sessions about heat exhaustion symptoms

This guidance comes on the heels of a forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, warning of an upcoming wave of extreme heat in South Asia.

Education and health experts are collaborating to prevent incidents of dehydration and heat-related illness in children, especially in overcrowded or non-air-conditioned classrooms.

As the region braces for rising temperatures, Punjab schools must adopt these precautions to safeguard their students and staff from the dangerous heatwave affecting Pakistan this year.