36 children die from pneumonia and eight out of 10 children affected by the disease, reveals the prime minister
LAHORE: Acting Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced that classes for students of first grade and below will remain suspended for a week in light of the prevailing cold wave that has gripped the province.
Naqvi, addressing an emergency meeting at Lahore Children's Hospital, said the government decided to also postpone the exams (for grades 1 to 10) after the death of 36 children due to pneumonia in the province.
“Eight out of 10 children suffer from pneumonia,” the prime minister said, while ordering schools to also abolish the practice of morning meetings.
“A child who has pneumonia should be prevented from coming to school,” he added, while calling for children and the elderly to be vaccinated against pneumonia.
The development comes as schools across the province reopened today (Wednesday) after the winter break that began on December 18, 2023.
On Monday, the provincial government announced a change to school schedules, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Jan. 10 to Jan. 22.
Given the persistent cold weather conditions, the Punjab School Education Department last week extended the winter vacation of public and private educational institutions till January 9.
