The Punjab government has announced the closure of primary schools in Lahore for a week due to high levels of smog in the city. According to a notification, all schools up to 5th grade will be closed from November 4 to November 9, impacting both private and public institutions.
Lahore has been struggling with severe air pollution, consistently ranking as one of the most polluted cities in the world for over a week. The city's air quality index (AQI) recently soared above 1,000, indicating extremely hazardous conditions. The pollution is mainly due to a combination of fog and harmful emissions from low-quality diesel, agricultural burning, and winter heating.
On Sunday, the level of PM2.5 pollutants, which are particularly harmful to health, reached 613—122.6 times higher than what the World Health Organization considers unhealthy. Despite the government implementing several measures to combat the smog, including a "green lockdown" in pollution hotspots, the situation remains dire.
Punjab's Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb held a press conference to address the issue, stating that two additional areas in Lahore would be placed under green lockdown next week as pollution levels are expected to rise further. She explained that, based on wind patterns, the province will likely experience increased pollution in the mornings for the coming week.
Classes for playgroup and primary students will be suspended, and the minister urged schools to enforce mandatory mask-wearing for older students. She also warned that construction sites could face permanent closures if they do not follow environmental guidelines.
Marriyum pointed out that a significant portion of the pollution affecting Lahore is coming from India, highlighting the need for discussions with the neighboring country to tackle the issue effectively. She compared the smog situation to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that just as the virus entered Pakistan through its borders, smog is also exacerbated by pollution from across the border. The problem has now spread to Islamabad as well.