Sindh Extends 9:00 a.m. School Start Time Amid Cold Wave

Sindh cold wave: Extension in decision to start schools at 9:00 a.m.

Karachi (Monitoring Desk/News Agency): The Sindh government’s School Education and Literacy Department has further extended the change in school timings across the province in view of the severe cold/cold wave. According to the issued notification, classes in both public and private educational institutions will continue to start at 9:00 a.m., and this relaxed timing will remain in effect until February 4, 2026, while schools have been instructed to keep the dismissal time unchanged as per routine.

According to the Education Department, this decision has been taken as a continuation of the earlier notification issued on January 10, 2026, under which the opening time of schools was temporarily shifted to 9:00 a.m. due to the intensity of the cold (these instructions were previously effective until January 26, and have now been extended further).

Meanwhile, Haider Ali, Chairman of the All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association, welcomed the decision and urged that an urgent meeting of the Steering Committee/Sub-Committee be convened so that decisions regarding the 2026 academic calendar (exam schedule, admissions, board examinations and results, etc.) can be made in a timely manner.

Background: Earlier, after complaints surfaced that some schools were not fully complying with official instructions, the Education Department had also issued warning letters/notices to institutions found in violation.

It is also worth noting that some reports mention the duration as “until February 5”; however, the notification/official references state that the relaxed timings are valid until February 4, 2026 (meaning normal timings are expected to resume from February 5).