Punjab Schools Revert to Normal Timings from February 2 as Smog Restrictions Expire

By Dr Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan – January 31, 2026
Schools in Punjab province will resume their regular working hours starting Monday, February 2, 2026, after the temporary late-start schedule linked to winter smog came to an end
Most private schools have already informed parents that classes will now begin at 8:00 am. Primary (smaller) classes will be dismissed at 1:30 pm while higher (larger) classes will end at 2:00 pm
The Department of Environmental Protection had shifted school start times to 9:45 am in November–December to reduce children’s exposure to severe air pollution during peak smog weeks. That special notification was valid only until January 31, 2026
The Additional Secretary Schools Education Department confirmed that the 9:45 am timing was a short-term measure and not a permanent change. Private schools are now permitted to follow their usual schedules
He added that during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, school timings will once again be adjusted to accommodate fasting hours, following the annual practice observed every year
The return to normal hours marks the end of roughly two months of delayed school starts imposed across major cities in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala, where smog levels frequently reached hazardous levels during the winter months