LAHORE: The Punjab government has allowed summer camps to be held in all public and private schools across the province from June 16 to July 15, 2025. The School Education Department (SED) issued strict guidelines to ensure student safety during the hot weather.
According to the official notification, summer camps can be held for all classes but only between 7am and 10am to avoid extreme heat. All activities must take place indoors.
Private schools have been strictly directed not to charge any extra fees. Similarly, public schools and their teachers are not allowed to collect any tuition fees for these camps.
The SED stated that participation in the camps will be completely voluntary. Schools must first get written permission from parents before enrolling students.
To protect students from the heat, schools are required to provide clean drinking water, proper seating, working fans, and backup electricity. A first aid kit must also be available on campus. Students do not need to wear uniforms but should dress in light-colored, loose clothes and wear caps for sun protection.
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SED Secretary Khalid Nazir Wattoo instructed all District Education Authority (DEA) CEOs and heads of private schools to strictly follow the rules. Deputy commissioners, school heads, and other officials have been assigned to monitor the implementation.
The government said this step was taken to give students a safe and engaging environment during the summer holidays while keeping it affordable.
Punjab Summer Camps Rules 2025:
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Camp Duration | June 16 to July 15, 2025 |
| Timings | 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM only |
| Eligibility | Open to all classes (public and private schools) |
| Participation | Voluntary; parental consent required |
| Fees | No additional fee allowed (private schools); no tuition fee collection (public schools/teachers) |
| Location of Activities | Only indoor activities allowed |
| Safety Measures | – Clean drinking water – Proper seating – Working fans – Backup electricity during load-shedding – First aid kit must be available |
| Uniform | Not mandatory; students advised to wear light-colored, loose clothing and caps |
| Monitoring | DEAs, deputy commissioners, school heads, and other officials to ensure compliance |
| Purpose | To provide a safe, engaging, and affordable environment for students during summer holidays |
Rs110 Billion Proposed for Education Development in Punjab
In another major development, the Punjab government has proposed a Rs110 billion education development budget for the 2025–26 financial year. The funds will be used to upgrade all 38,000 public schools across the province and fix missing facilities.
According to a TV report, the government plans to build 50,000 new classrooms, provide missing furniture, and improve infrastructure like boundary walls and sanitation systems.
Under this plan, 72 public schools will be upgraded to “Schools of Eminence” with modern facilities and better learning environments. The scheme will be implemented through a new model framework.
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Scholarships will also be given to public school students to promote inclusive education. These steps will be carried out with the help of School Management Councils. Officials have set a deadline of December 31, 2025, to complete all basic facilities in schools.
It is worth mentioning that the Punjab government had already increased the education budget for the 2024–25 fiscal year by 13 percent. The total allocation was raised to Rs669.74 billion, with Rs65.50 billion for development and Rs604.24 billion for current expenses.
In that budget, Rs42.50 billion was set aside for school renovation and missing facilities, including IT labs and afternoon school programmes.
To improve education quality further, the government also launched the Public Schools Reorganisation Programme (PSRP) through the Punjab Education Foundation. This programme uses public-private partnerships to boost enrolment, hire teachers, and work with entrepreneurs and education technology firms.
