Caretaker government in Punjab has extended winter vacations and postponed exams for students from grade 1 to grade 10, following the deaths of at least 36 children from pneumonia amidst an intense cold wave.
Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the decision during an emergency meeting at Lahore’s Children’s Hospital on January 10th, 2024.
Schools were originally scheduled to reopen on January 9th after the winter break that started on December 18th, 2023.
However, the government has now ordered an additional week of closures for grades 1 and below, while postponing exams across all grades up to 10 due to the health crisis.
Chief Minister Naqvi stated that 8 out of 10 children are currently suffering from pneumonia. He directed schools to halt morning assemblies and emphasized the need to vaccinate children and the elderly against preventable diseases like pneumonia. The government had previously adjusted school timings due to the extreme weather.
