The Punjab government on Friday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that it was ready to commence winter vacations from December 23 to the first week of January, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The government’s lawyer informed Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court who was hearing the petitions of Shiraz Zaka and Azhar Siddique regarding smog, that the Punjab government was ready to close the educational institutions from December 23 to the first week of January. 

The court sought notification of the holidays at the next hearing and adjourned the case hearing until December 20.

During the proceedings, Justice Shahid Karim remarked that holidays in educational institutions would reduce the intensity of smog and also improve the flow of traffic.

The LHC judge pointed out that no concrete and effective measures have been taken to check smog.

Earlier, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said that the government has been reviewing proposals about decreasing the winter vacations this year.

Addressing a gathering in Islamabad on Thursday, Shafqat Mehmood said that he was in favour of holidays from December last week to first week of January and the education ministry gave this proposal after reviewing academic point of view.