Winter Vacations Announced for Students in Punjab!

We are here to announce some important news regarding the school going students in Punjab! The government of Punjab has announced winter vacations 2024 for students and few specific directives & measures to fight the smog in Punjab. The Punjab government has officially declared winter vacations 2024-2025 for schools across the province and the winter holiday dates have also been provided on this page. Alongside this winter holidays announcement, the Lahore High Court has issued significant directives of bus transportation for students too which are intended to highlight environmental concerns and improving transportation for school-going children.

Punjab Winter Vacations Schedule Announced

According to the Secretary Schools Punjab Khalid Nazir Watto the winter holidays in Punjab schools will start on 20^th December 2024 and will last till 10^th January 2025. According to these dates students will enjoy a 20 days long break during these winter vacations 2024-2025. Students are advised to stay connected to our website for more important and latest updates like this.

Lahore High Court Orders for Smog Control

During hearings on multiple environmental petitions, Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued several orders and long terms directives to schools and government departments to combat the smog and improve air quality in the province. These orders includes the following directives too:

Mandatory School Bus Services:

Lahore High court highlighted the need for schools to provide transportation for students. A written order from the high court stated that:

• Schools must arrange buses for transporting children to and from their homes after the winter vacations.
• Schools who fail to comply or deny this directive will face strict action, including sealing of school building.
• The Secretary of Schools has been instructed to issue final notices to schools that do not arrange school buses, ensuring full compliance with the court’s decision.

Quarterly Vehicle Emissions Testing:

Justice Shahid Karim also directed the government to implement a system for quarterly testing of vehicle emissions and issuance of fitness certificates to these transportations. This includes:

• Routine emissions testing for all transport vehicles every three months.
• Submission of a comprehensive plan detailing these measures to the Lahore High Court.

Crackdown on Environmental Violations

The Punjab government is taking additional steps to control the environmental hazards in the province:

• Burning of Crop Residues: The Advocate General informed the court that legal cases are being filed against individuals who are burning crop residues/ remains, which contribute to smog even more.
• Action against Emission Violators: The Transport Department has launched operations across Punjab to crack down on vehicles that emit excessive smoke.
• Disciplinary Action: The Assistant Commissioner of Jaranwala recently suspended a local Patwari for disobeying the anti-smog orders.

A Step towards Cleaner Air and Safer Transportation

These combined efforts of the Punjab government and the Lahore High Court are aimed to provide safer transportation options for school going students and handle the smog situation and environmental problems effectively. Parents, students and the school administrations are advised to obey these new safety measures to make sure a safer and healthier environment for all. For updates on these recent directives and their implementation, stay tuned to our website.