The government has decided to keep all educational institutions open even in the winter as there is no need to close them in the current situation.

This was decided during an Inter-Provincial Education ministerial meeting today chaired by Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood. The health ministry officials briefed the meeting on the overall coronavirus situation in the country.

The ministers and education officials of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab unanimously decided that there is no need to close educational institutions in the current situation.

However, they said winter vacations could be given in areas with snowfall. The meeting said they will discuss about the holidays in northern areas because of the harsh weather conditions, local media reported.

The meeting also discussed board examinations of the eighth grade, as well as moving the academic year from April to August. However, no decision has been made.