The Punjab School Education Department has issued a notification announcing that all public and private schools in the province will remain closed on Fridays, effectively moving to a four‑day academic week. Under the new schedule, educational institutions will operate Monday through Thursday, with Friday observed as the weekend break alongside Saturday.

According to the official document, single‑shift schools will hold classes from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, while double‑shift schools will run morning sessions from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm and afternoon sessions from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

The move comes as schools in Punjab reopened on April 1 after a 22‑day closure from March 10 to March 31 under fuel conservation and austerity measures. During that period, some institutions conducted online classes, and scheduled exams continued despite the shutdown.

Education authorities have directed all district education officers to ensure the new weekly schedule is implemented across both government and private schools. Officials say the revised timetable aims to streamline operations while aligning with broader resource management goals.