Schools in Pakistan asked to enhance security before reopening

Lahore, Dec 28: All schools in Pakistan's Punjab province will remain closed for another 10 days as the security measures in the institutions were found insufficient after the Peshawar school attack.

The government on Dec 27 issued a notification ordering that all public and private schools will remain closed till January 12.

Earlier, the government had called an early winter holidays from December 19 to January 2 for schools in Punjab fearing backlash in the wake of execution of several death row terrorists after a ban on the death penalty was lifted following the Peshawar school massacre in which 150 people, mostly children, were killed.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concern to ensure adequate security measures before opening the schools. All schools have been asked to hire trained guards equipped with arms.

PTI