Chandigarh, May 22
The Punjab government has announced revised timings for all state government offices, schools and colleges in an effort to protect people from extreme summer heat.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Friday that government offices will now operate from 07:30 to 13:30 instead of the existing 09:00 to 17:00 schedule.
The new timings will come into effect on 25 May and remain in place until further notice.
Mann said the decision was taken in the “larger public interest” following consultations with stakeholders, adding that it would help residents complete official work during cooler morning hours.
He also said the revised schedule would benefit government employees by allowing them to finish work before temperatures rise sharply later in the day.
According to the chief minister, the move is also expected to help families, as school and college students will return home around the same time as their parents.
The Punjab government said the revised timings could also reduce pressure on the state’s electricity network. Data from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited shows that peak power demand usually begins after 13:00.
Mann said the government remained committed to public welfare and would continue taking measures aimed at easing difficulties during the summer season.
