The Election Commission on Monday decided to instruct the government to close public and private schools and campuses from June 25 to June 28 in provinces 1, 5 and 7 as many educational institutions will be converted into polling centres.

An EC meeting also decided to ask the government to announce a public holiday on June 28, the polling day, in the three provinces.

The poll authority also decided to seek longer closure of educational institutions if any of them are turned into counting centres, said EC Spokesperson Surya Sharma. The elections are being held in 334 local units of 35 districts.