Punjab Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat has stated that all public and private schools would be kept open and that the academic calendar would be completed on time.
In a post on X, he wrote that all public and private schools will be open and the academic calendar will be completed.
His statement came amid rising discussion about possible online classes as the federal government is considering emergency energy saving measures.
The federal government is considering work from home policy as part of a national fuel saving plan.
The proposal also involves taking classes online rather than attending them physically.
Sources say the discussion has come about due to fears of disruptions of oil supplies in the Middle East following recent strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.
The conflict has caused concerns about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Nearly one fifth of the world seaborne crude oil goes through this strategic route while vast quantities of liquefied natural gas are also transported through the same waterway.
Disruption will make global energy market distorted and raise the prices of fuel for importing countries such as Pakistan.
Because of these threats authorities have begun making a national action plan to cut back on energy use in the event that situation worsens.
Sources were informed the plan may feature temporary online classes and flexible working arrangements such as those used in the Covid pandemic.
The corporate sector could also be encouraged to give employees two days off at home to reduce consumption of fuel.
A cabinet committee sitting under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has already reviewed the situation of the supply of fuel in the country including the supply of Oil Reserves, LNG shipments and cross border LPG supplies.
Officials say that Pakistan currently stocks about four weeks of petrol and diesel but contingency planning is continuing in case the international shipping disruptions continue. Further meetings with provinces are predicted to take place soon.
Also read: Are schools in Pakistan closing, shifting to online classes due to fuel crisis?
