Public pressure has paid off, as the government has decided to partially ease the lockdown.
According to sources, operating hours for gyms, fitness centres, and indoor sports facilities will be extended.
Gyms and fitness centres will be allowed to remain open until 10 PM or may be exempted from certain restrictions.
The district administration had proposed extending gym hours as an exception to lockdown measures.
Sources further stated that the Punjab government has agreed to the recommendations put forward by the district administration.
In another development, the Education Minister of Punjab, Rana Sikandar Hayat, clarified the news circulating about Friday holidays in schools, saying that the Friday holidays in educational institutions will not become permanent and schools will soon return to the normal weekly schedule.
In a statement, he said that Friday holidays were given on a temporary basis, but it is not being made part of the permanent system.
According to the education minister, Friday holidays will be completely abolished in the coming weeks, and educational institutions will resume their traditional working hours.
In this regard, the provincial government is in touch with the federal government to make sure that the decisions are being implemented.
Punjab summer vacations 2026
Rana Sikandar Hayat also discussed the speculations regarding the summer vacations. The education minister said that the final decision regarding the reduction in the duration of the holidays or the schedule will be taken after May 15.
In addition to this, all decisions in this regard will come into effect only after the approval of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
In view of the energy crisis and rising prices of petroleum products, it was decided to make Friday a holiday in educational institutions in Pakistan.
Under this new implementation, the students were given online classes instead of coming to school that day.
Read more: CM Punjab e-bike teacher scheme 2026: see eligibility, application
AJK decides to end Friday holiday
Before this, the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) had removed the Friday holiday for all government departments.
According to the notification, all government offices will now remain open on Friday in AJK, and it will be a normal working day.
