The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has extended the winter holidays for government and private primary schools until January 13 due to severe cold and fog.

The provincial Elementary and School Education Department issued a statement in this regard on Sunday.

As per the notification, all private and government primary schools (from playgroup to Class 5) across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain closed till January 13 due to the prevailing cold weather conditions.

Also Read: Punjab extends winter holidays till Jan 9 amid frosty weather

It further announced revised timings for middle/primary, high, and higher secondary schools (Classes 6 and above).

KP schools winter vacation

According to the new schedule, all middle, primary, and higher secondary schools will remain open from 9:30am to 3:30pm, instead of the previous 8:30am to 2:30pm.

The notification further mentioned that these timings will remain in force for a week, after which the previous schedule will be followed.

According to the Met department, the plain areas of the province, including Peshawar, have been blanketed by a severe cold and fog wave, as the mercury level has dropped to 1 degree Celsius. Fog will continue to engulf Charsadda, Peshawar, Nowshera and other areas for the next few days.

In the last 24 hours, the minimum temperature in Peshawar was recorded at 1 Celsius and maximum 12 degrees.

Previously, the caretaker Punjab government had extended the holidays in all private and public schools for another nine days. All the educational institutions will remain closed until January 9 and will be opened on January 10.