School timings to change in Islamabad due to hot weather

The federal government on Wednesday announced the new timings of the schools in Islamabad due to the hot weather and heatwave that has gripped the capital city.

A notification was issued owing to the situation and stated that institutes working in the morning shift can remain open from 7 am till 11 am from Monday to Thursday. It further specified that schools operating two (Morning and afternoon) shifts will have classes on Friday and Saturday from 7 am till 11 am.

The government also permitted all schools of the federal capital to work at 50% capacity on the assigned days. Previously, the school timings were 8 am till 1 pm.

The notification comes two days after students of grades 1-8 returned to schools in Islamabad after the government allowed the resumption of school activities and in-person classes.

However, on Wednesday, the temperature shot up to above 40 degrees Celsius in the capital city and dozens of students fainted due to heatstroke and exhaustion caused by power outages in schools.

The decision to reopen schools was taken after the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) allowed in-person classes, after the decline in the coronavirus cases in the capital.

Classes for grades 9-10 were already functional before this notification.