Punjab Announces Winter School Timings From October 16, With Schools Opening at 8:45am Until March 31

The school day is about to shift across Punjab. The School Education Department has issued the winter timetable for government schools throughout the province, effective from October 16, 2026 and running until March 31, 2027. For parents and students, the headline change is simple: the school bell moves to 8:45 in the morning instead of the early summer start.

Single and double shifts

Under the notification, single-shift schools will run from 8:45am to 1:30pm, Monday to Thursday, and close at 12:30pm on Fridays. In double-shift schools, the morning session will run from 8:45am to 1:15pm, Monday to Thursday, ending at 12:30pm on Fridays, while the afternoon shift will run from 1:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 2:00pm to 4:30pm on Fridays. The notification, issued on October 14, is signed by School Education Secretary Muddassir Riaz Malik.

How it will be applied

The department has directed the chief executive officers of district education authorities across Punjab to make sure schools follow the revised schedule. The notification keeps a 15-minute difference in the timings of girls’ schools, which district officials may adjust according to local requirements. The later start is the province’s usual winter adjustment for fog and colder mornings, and families will need to reset their morning routines from tomorrow.