The Punjab government has officially announced winter vacations for all public and private educational institutions across the province, providing students and faculty with a scheduled academic break during the peak winter period.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Higher Education Department on Monday, all public and private colleges and universities will remain closed from December 23, 2025, to January 10, 2026. The decision applies uniformly across the province and covers both government-run and privately managed institutions.
The notification clarified that all colleges will resume classes on Monday, January 12, 2026, and will return to a full, normal academic week upon reopening. However, it added an important exception: BS four-year degree programmes will continue to function during the vacation period, indicating that regular academic activities for these programmes will not be suspended.
In addition, the department confirmed that all examinations will proceed according to previously announced schedules set by respective boards and universities. This means that students appearing in ongoing or upcoming exams will be required to follow their notified timetables without any changes due to the winter break.
The announcement follows an earlier decision by the Punjab government regarding winter holidays for schools across the province. Under a separate notification issued by the provincial education department, all public and private schools will observe winter vacations from December 22, 2025, to January 10, 2026.
The schools’ notification stated that educational activities would resume on January 10, 2026, marking the start of the new academic term after the winter break. This creates a slight difference in reopening dates between schools and colleges, with higher education institutions reopening two days later.
Provincial authorities said the staggered schedules were designed to accommodate academic calendars, examination timelines, and administrative requirements at different education levels. Winter vacations are traditionally announced during this period due to colder weather conditions, particularly in northern and central Punjab.
Parents, students, and educators welcomed the clarity provided by the official notifications, allowing families to plan travel, study schedules, and examinations in advance. Education officials also stressed that institutions are expected to strictly follow the announced timelines and ensure smooth resumption of academic activities after the break.
Punjab regularly issues separate vacation schedules for schools and higher education institutions to ensure minimal disruption to academic progress while addressing seasonal concerns. The latest announcement aligns with past practices and reflects the government’s effort to maintain consistency across the province’s education system.
