The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has ordered all public and private educational institutions across the province to remain closed every Friday and Saturday. The decision will apply to schools, colleges, universities and other degree-awarding institutions.
The Education Department has issued a formal notification following directives from the provincial cabinet. Under the new arrangement, educational activities will continue normally from Monday to Thursday, while Friday and Saturday will be designated as weekly closure days.
The temporary schedule will remain in effect for two months or until further orders, whichever comes first. This means students will physically attend their educational institutions for four days a week during the period covered by the notification.
Officials said the main reason behind the decision is to reduce petroleum consumption and address transportation difficulties linked to the current fuel situation. Millions of students, teachers and parents travel to educational institutions every day, resulting in significant fuel consumption.
By keeping educational institutions physically closed for two additional days each week, the government expects to reduce fuel use associated with daily commuting. The decision forms part of a wider fuel-conservation strategy being implemented across the province.
The government has also directed educational institutions to reduce the impact of the temporary closure on students. School heads have been asked to use home-schooling and online teaching where possible during Fridays and Saturdays.
Higher education institutions have similarly been encouraged to use online and hybrid teaching methods. This will allow academic activities to continue remotely where the required facilities are available.
The new arrangement therefore does not necessarily mean that students will have no academic work on Fridays and Saturdays. Institutions may continue lessons, assignments and other educational activities through remote learning depending on their resources and individual circumstances.
The education-sector measure is part of broader efforts by the provincial government to conserve petroleum and control expenditure. Other measures reportedly include reducing fuel consumption by official vehicles, holding government meetings online and limiting unnecessary official activities.
Authorities have said the wider objective is to make careful use of available petroleum reserves while ensuring that essential government operations continue during the ongoing fuel-related difficulties.
KP has previously introduced measures affecting educational schedules during periods of fuel and transportation challenges. In June 2026, the Education Department issued special instructions regarding summer camps to help compensate for educational losses associated with a four-day teaching week.
For students and parents across the province, the latest notification means schools, colleges and universities will physically operate from Monday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday will remain closure days under the temporary arrangement.
Officials have stressed that the decision is not a permanent change to the provincial education system. The schedule could be revised if the petroleum situation improves or if the government issues new instructions before the two-month period ends.
