MANSEHRA: The district administration has sealed around a dozen private schools and colleges for holding classes despite the issuance of the winter vacation notification by the government due to the current cold wave across Hazara division.
“We cannot allow private educational institutions to play with the health of students in such harsh winter conditions, so several of them have been sealed for violating winter break orders,” Assistant Commissioner (Central) Sana Fatima told reporters on January 3.
A joint team of the district administration and police, led by Ms Fatima, conducted surprise visits to private schools and colleges and sealed around a dozen for holding regular classes during the winter vacation.
The provincial government had notified the closure of both public and private educational institutions across the province in both summer and winter zones in view of the intense cold wave that has swept across the province.
Official says crackdown on violators of govt notification to continue
Since the start of snowfall earlier this week, high-altitude parts of Mansehra and the rest in the upper regions of Hazara Division have recorded temperatures as low as minus 12 degrees Celsius.
“Our crackdown on the violators of winter break orders will continue across Mansehra tehsil and other parts of the district,” Ms Fatima warned.
She said the administration had sealed schools found in breach of official orders and that the action would continue to ensure all private institutions comply with the winter break notification in letter and spirit.
The assistant commissioner said that due to the severe cold wave and snowfall, the incidence of respiratory tract infections had increased significantly in the district.
She also urged parents not to send their children to schools and colleges during the winter break under the Summer and Winter Zone Policy.
Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2026.
