Key Takeaways
- The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has clarified that a notification claiming all colleges and universities in Punjab will remain closed on October 12 is fake.
- The fabricated notification cited the law and order situation as the reason for the proposed closure, but was dismissed by the HED.
- The HED urged the public to verify such announcements through official channels and provided a helpline for confirmation.
The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has issued a public warning, clarifying that a notification claiming all public and private colleges and universities across Punjab will remain closed on Monday, October 12, is fake.
The fabricated notification, purportedly issued by the HED, was dated October 11 and cited the law and order situation in the province as the reason for the proposed closure.
In a statement, the HED urged students, parents, and educational institutions to be wary of misleading notifications circulating on social media and to verify such announcements through official channels.
The department has previously warned the public about fake notifications and established a dedicated cell to verify information and prevent confusion caused by false announcements.
The HED provided a helpline at 042-99210039-42 for confirmation of notifications and circulars, urging the public to rely on its official communications and avoid spreading unverified information.
Meanwhile, all public and private educational institutions in Peshawar will remain closed on Monday, October 12, following a notification issued by the deputy commissioner on Sunday, October 11.
The notification, issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Peshawar, under the signature of Additional Deputy Commissioner General Muhammad Daud Saleemi, applies to all schools, colleges, and universities within the district’s jurisdiction.
The directive does not specify a reason for the closure, but it comes as the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, October 11, following President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of recommendations made by the federal cabinet.
The measures were introduced under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution amid a deteriorating security situation and disagreements between the federal and provincial governments over counterterrorism efforts.
