Balochistan extends closure of educational institutions till March 31

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has extended the closure of all government and private educational institutions across the province until March 31, 2026, citing the prevailing circumstances in the region.

An official notification issued on Sunday evening confirmed the extension, stating that in continuation of an earlier directive issued on March 9 regarding the shutdown of all educational institutions, the provincial government had decided to prolong the closure until the end of the month.

Scope of the closure

The notification made clear that the extended closure applies to all public and private schools as well as other educational institutions operating within Balochistan. The decision was taken in light of the prevailing situation in the region, according to the official notification.

Ongoing academic activities to continue

Despite the extended closure, the Balochistan government clarified that certain academic activities would not be affected by the decision. The ongoing enrollment campaign, digital school census, and any scheduled examinations will continue as per their respective timelines, the notification stated.

The initial closure of educational institutions had been announced on March 9, with the latest extension now pushing the shutdown to the last day of March. The notification did not specify the exact nature of the prevailing circumstances that necessitated the prolonged closure.

The decision affects thousands of students across Balochistan, where both government-run and privately operated schools and educational institutions remain shut as the province navigates the current situation. It remains to be seen whether the closure will be extended further beyond March 31 or whether institutions will be allowed to reopen as scheduled at the start of April.