KARACHI (Kashmir English): The federal government on Tuesday declared holidays in schools and colleges from March 16 to 31, a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced austerity and fuel conservation measures across the country amid the escalating situation in the Middle East.
According to the notification issued by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the decision to close educational institutions has been taken under the government’s austerity and fuel-saving campaign.
The notification stated that all activities and schedules related to exams will continue as usual.
Furthermore, the education authorities have instructed the immediate conduct of all classes of BS programs online, while 50 percent of the administrative staff of educational institutions will work under the work-from-home policy.
According to the notification, this decision will be applicable to all federal government schools and colleges in Islamabad.
Week-long school holidays
Last week, the Federal Directorate of Education declared six days of spring holidays for all educational institutions in the federal capital.
According to the notification, federal government educational institutions will remain closed from March 24 to March 27 and will reopen on March 30.
“Spring Break shall be observed in all educational institutions working under the ambit of the Federal Directorate of Education w.e.f. 24-03-2026 to 27-03-2026. All institutions shall reopen on 30-03-2026,” the notification reads.
“Attendance on 30-03-2026 shall be mandatory for all teaching staff to ensure compilation and announcement of the in-house annual examination results,” it said.
Sindh declares 15-day holiday
Earlier today, the Sindh government also announced a 15-day spring holiday for schools and colleges across the province.
All public and private educational institutions will remain closed from March 16 to 31, provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, colleges and universities across the province have been directed to continue academic activities through online classes during this time, the minister added.
Despite the closure of schools, the provincial government has decided that examinations will be conducted as scheduled and will not be postponed.
Earlier, the Punjab government also announced school closures from March 10 to 31.
These measures follow a nationwide austerity initiative announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier, which included spending curbs and energy conservation steps to cope with the global fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
