The provincial government of Punjab has on Monday directed public and private offices to ensure that the 50% works from home in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.

According to a notification issued by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the order from Punjab government comes into effect immediately and will remain applicable till January 31, 2021.

The decision came a few hours after Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced the closure of all educational institutions from November 26 to January 11.

The minister, after a meeting with education ministers of all four provinces, decided that students will take classes from home till December 24. From December 24 to January 10, they will have winter vacation break.

“All ministers have mutually decided that to keep all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and tuition centres closed. However, online classes will continue from November 26 to December 24 after which winter break will start. Schools will reopen on January 11, 2021,” Shafqat Mahmood said.

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Moreover, Sindh Minister for Education Saeed Ghani made a statement at a meeting of the NCOC chaired by Mahmood.

“This year children will not be promoted in classes without exams.”

“We suggest that all educational institutions should not be closed, but if it seems so, then the primary schools with an enrollment of 73% should be closed while all classes of class 6 and above should be continued, added Ghani.

Saeed Ghani further said: “The ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth examinations should not be taken in May and June but should be held and decided later based on the situation ahead.”

He further added that all non-teaching activities should be completely closed in educational institutions this year.