Amid a severe heatwave affecting Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced new working hours for all government offices and educational institutions, effective from May 25. Under this revised schedule, which will remain in place until further notice, all schools and government offices will operate from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. This decision is driven by the need to protect students from the harsh afternoon heat and reduce electricity consumption during peak hours when cooling demands are highest. Mann communicated the decision via social media, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as temperatures have soared across several districts. The school education department will soon release detailed guidelines for schools to implement these changes uniformly across all classes. This initiative follows a similar adjustment made in April 2023, where office hours were shifted to 7:30 AM to 2 PM to help conserve electricity and alleviate pressure on the power infrastructure. With several districts experiencing heatwave-like conditions, local authorities have also recommended that residents avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure during the hottest parts of the day.