Schools, colleges to stay shut for three days

Utilizing schools, colleges as polling stations, necessitating closure of educational facilities

PESHAWAR:

All educational institutions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will be closed from February 7 to 9 in light of the upcoming general elections.

While an official decision has been made, the formal announcement is scheduled for the first week of February. The elections, slated for February 8, will predominantly utilize schools and colleges as polling stations, necessitating the closure of educational facilities.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that teachers will play a pivotal role as polling staff during the elections, prompting the preemptive decision to keep educational institutions shuttered for three days.

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The final confirmation on the closure of all schools and colleges will be made two or three days before the general elections, with the possibility of extending the holidays based on prevailing circumstances.

Highlighting the shortage of over 25,000 policemen for election duties, the government plans to address this gap by mobilizing government officials from various departments. Additionally, the Frontier Constabulary and Frontier Corps will join the police in deployment across the province to ensure a secure electoral process.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2024.