Amid extreme cold conditions, the Punjab government on Saturday extended winter vacations in the province till January 9.

The official notification was issued after a cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of the caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi where it was decided to extend the winter holidays in schools and colleges across the province.

Winter holidays in Punjab, including cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, have been extended due to prevailing smog and adverse weather conditions in the region.

The caretaker government notified winter vacations in the province from December 18, 2023, to Jan 1, 2024.

Read: Winter vacation in Punjab’s non-formal schools to start from Jan 1

CM Naqvi on November 30 announced the decision in a post on X after holding a meeting with experts and govt officials to address the smog challenge in Punjab.

“With an improved Air Quality Index (AQI), no restrictions are planned for the upcoming weekend. Additionally, winter vacations for children will commence from Dec 18, 2023, to Jan 1, 2024,” he wrote.

Earlier today, the interim government announced that winter vacations in Punjab’s non-formal schools would start from Jan 1 and would continue till January 10.