Universities, colleges to reopen in Punjab on September 16

• University of Punjab Vice-Chancellor shares HED's notification on his Twitter handle.
• All public and private higher education institutes shall be re-opened on a staggered basis, says notification.
• Notification obliges authorities concerned to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 SOPs.

LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) on Wednesday issued a notification for the re-opening of higher education institutes across the province.

A notification, shared by University of the Punjab (UTP) Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmad Akhtar on Twitter, said that the decision to reopen the institutes has been taken in pursuance of the National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) instructions.

“All public and private universities, degree awarding institutes and colleges in all the cities of Punjab shall be re-opened with effect from September 16, on a staggered basis,” read the notification.

In addition to this, the notification obliges all the concerned authorities to ensure strict adherence to coronavirus-related restrictions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as 100% vaccination of all the teaching and non-teaching staff, and students.

It reiterates that strict adherence to COVID curbs will remain enforced till September 22, 2021.

In a separate Twitter post, Akhtar shared a statement issued by UTP Registrar Muhammad Khalid Khan, notifying that the varsity will resume from September 16.

According to the notification, UTP will start functioning with 50% attendance three days a week in compliance with the NCOC guidelines.

The registrar has directed all the heads of departments to ensure adherence to the directives reiterated by the PHEC.

Moreover, the Hall Council chairman has been directed to ensure 100% vaccination of hostel residents and submission of vaccination certificates.