ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has extended summer vacations for all private and public schools till Aug. 31, the provincial government said on Thursday.

While the reason for the decision was not explicitly mentioned by authorities, it comes amid intense monsoon showers that have flooded several Punjab cities in recent weeks.

The province has reported the highest number of deaths at 164 and 580 injuries since the rains first began on June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The rains and floods have also caused widespread destruction of homes and swept away livestock and crops.

“It is hereby notified that summer vacations in all public and private schools in province of Punjab are extended w.e.f (with effect from) Aug. 14 to Aug. 31, 2025,” the Punjab School Education Department said in a notification.

“All schools (public and private) shall reopen on Monday, Sep. 1, 2025 resuming a full/normal week for all classes.”

The decision marks a change in the academic calendar of schools which were previously scheduled to open on Aug 14.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat also confirmed the decision in a post on X, but did not mention the reason either.

Pakistan has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change.

The Punjab government also declared an early summer break in late May for all public and private schools due to a prolonged heatwave across the province.