KARACHI: All academic institutions, including schools, in Sindh will remain closed for winter vacation from December 22 to December 31, the provincial government announced in a notification. According to the notification issued by the Sindh government, all educational institutes will reopen on January 1, 2018, after a 10-day break. The schedule is to be followed by both private and government schools’ administration. The vacations have been announced after keeping in mind the prevailing cold and dry weather conditions in the province. Meanwhile, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments are yet to make formal announcements in this regard. Separately, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday has forecast cold and dry winter conditions across the country for the next 24 hours. The ongoing cold spell has intensified across the country wherein people have put on warm clothes to fight the frosty weather. The PMD has predicted intense cold weather conditions with wintry showers, strong winds, and light snowfall over the hills in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan region during the next 24 hours. Published in Daily Times, December 11th 2017.