CHANDIGARH, May 22 — Institutional timetables throughout Punjab will undergo a major adjustment next week as part of an emergency public safety response to persistent thermal stress, state executives declared Friday.
The revised policy enforces a uniform work and instructional window from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM for all government employees and school classes. The framework, which goes into effect on May 25, marks a direct intervention by the state to reduce peak-hour solar exposure for vulnerable demographics, particularly young children and field staff.
“The decision was taken keeping in mind the rising temperatures and increasing discomfort being faced by students, teachers and employees during daytime hours,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated, adding that public health must take precedence during extreme seasonal cycles.
Education officials confirmed that the fresh parameters apply globally across all primary and secondary grade classes. Regional power management cells supported the transition, stating that adjusting public sector hours helps redistribute load factors on the electrical infrastructure during high-demand summer afternoons.
The policy implementation coincides with strict meteorological observations noting severe heat risks across the northwest plains. While brief windstorms provided short-term relief to some northern sectors, regional administrators maintained that structural adjustments remain necessary to ensure public safety until seasonal cooling occurs.
