Punjab Announces New Winter School Timings; First Semester Exams Postponed

LAHORE:The Punjab government has announced new school timings for the winter season across the province.

Provincial Education Minister **Rana Sikandar Hayat** said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that all schools in Punjab will now open at **8:45 AM** and close at **1:30 PM**.

Meanwhile, thousands of students in government schools will see their **first semester examinations postponed** due to recent disruptions caused by flooding and school closures.

According to an official notification issued by the **Punjab Education Department**, the exams, which were originally scheduled to begin on **October 15**, will now be held in the **first week of December**.

Officials further stated that under the **new policy**, the *first semester* and *midterm examinations* will be **merged into a single phase**, aimed at giving students **more preparation time** and helping restore the academic calendar disrupted by the natural calamity.