Schools in Islamabad also adopt four-day week schedule

The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) on Thursday announced that all private educational institutions in the Islamabad Capital Territory will now observe a four-day workweek for on-campus academic activities.

According to a notification issued by PEIRA Secretary Muhammad Javed Iqbal, the new schedule will run from Monday to Thursday with immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice.

The decision follows government directives on austerity and fuel conservation measures. PEIRA has instructed all concerned institutions to ensure strict compliance with the order.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Punjab School Education Department announced that all public and private schools across the province would now operate only four days a week, with schools remaining closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

"Pursuant to the approval of the Competent Authority, it is hereby notified that all public and private schools across Punjab shall remain closed on Friday until further orders," read the notification.

Also Read: Schools reopen after 21-day hiatus

On Monday, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that educational activities in the province would resume from Wednesday, April 1, with regular classes being conducted five days a week.

On March 9, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the closure of all educational institutions in the province until the end of the month. In addition, the provincial government had also imposed restrictions on fuel usage by government officials, as part of efforts to manage the energy shortage.

On March 10, federal and provincial governments introduced a range of austerity measures in the wake of rising fuel costs due to the Gulf conflict. The measures included the declaration of an additional weekly holiday to cutting free petrol for ministers, limiting protocol vehicles, and proposing subsidised fuel for students.