The civil administration has ordered schools in several flood-hit districts of Punjab to remain closed until further notice. The decision aims to ensure the safety of students and staff as floodwaters continue to rise.
Officials confirmed that all public and private schools in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, and Pasrur districts will stay shut from August 27, 2025. The closure applies to every level of education, from primary to higher secondary. Authorities stated that all academic and co-curricular activities on campuses are suspended.
A notification from Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Saba Asghar Ali stressed that the step was taken in the public interest. Strict implementation has been directed, and residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel. People have also been warned to stay away from rivers and streams due to strong currents and overflowing banks.
The Punjab government declared a public holiday on Wednesday in Gujrat and Sialkot as the flood situation worsened. Heavy inflows from India into the Sutlej and Chenab rivers triggered a high alert. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned of extraordinary flooding in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers. Evacuations from vulnerable areas were ordered immediately.
NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider said more than 190,000 people had been moved to safer places across Punjab. Rescue teams have been working around the clock, with recent efforts saving 20 people trapped under the Shahbazpur Bridge.
Gujrat Deputy Commissioner Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi and Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali visited Head Marala to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, disruptions in communication services added to public distress. Mobile networks and internet services remain down in many affected areas.
Authorities continue to monitor the crisis closely. Further decisions on reopening schools will depend on improvements in the flood situation. For now, safety measures remain the top priority as thousands face displacement and rising water levels across the province.
