Peshawar – Higher Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has given a notice of the immediate closure of all colleges and universities of the winter zone of the province, one week long, starting August 19, 2025, till August 25, 2025.
This step has been undertaken as a precautionary measure in anticipation of the potential danger of cloudburst, heavy rain and landslides that have in the recent past destroyed sections of the province.
The Office of the Minister for Higher Education, Archives and Libraries, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, made the announcement. In direct response to the recent severe weather events and flash floods that have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and have destroyed much of the region.
The action is meant to guarantee the safety of the students, teachers, and other personnel, and avoid exposing them to the possible risks on the way to and back to their schools and colleges.
Online Education
It adds that in as far as possible, universities and colleges should be prepared to embrace online teaching in a bid to maintain academic operations without disruptions. This guarantees that necessary closure does not have much impact on the studies of the students.
The order shows a positive attitude by the government to strike a balance between safety and continuity of education by using technology to solve the logistical issues of natural disasters.
The Minister of Higher Education, Meena Khan Afridi, in a statement made it clear that the government will assist students in flood-hit regions. Afridi said: “Plans have been laid to give additional relief through higher education in the flood areas. Flooding would not leave the students without facilities and convenience anywhere.”
This promise is an illustration of a larger government initiative to consider the needs of the people affected by the floods so that the disaster does not leave a gap in education of the affected young people.
Messages of Condolences
Messages of condolence and solidarity have come in hundreds of thousands after Pakistan was hit by the devastating effect of the floods. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, voiced his “profound grief” about loss of life and noted that UN country teams were ready to offer the required support.
The support is also extended by several countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its deepest condolence and sympathy, and once again expressed its solidarity with Pakistan.
The leaders of UAE and Russia showed their condolences and expressed a desire to assist the communities that are affected.
Messages of condolence were also sent by Japan Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister who prayed to the souls of the victims and the quick recovery of the injured.
Such gestures of the international community show the solidarity of the international community with Pakistan at this hour of need.
