Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Friday clarified that all schools and colleges across the province will reopen on January 12. The clarification comes after a reportedly fake notification circulated on social media claiming that winter vacations in Punjab had been extended from January 10 to 17. However, the education minister rebuffed claims of extending winter holidays, urging the public to “avoid fake news.” Earlier this week, he had also denied any extension of the winter holidays. The Punjab government had announced winter vacations for all public and private schools and colleges from December 22 to January 10. According to the official notification, schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on January 12. A day ago, a fake notification claiming to have been issued by Punjab’s School Education Department went viral on social media, spreading confusion among parents and students. The notification claimed that “due to severe weather conditions,” the vacations had been extended until January 17, and that schools would reopen on January 19.