Islamabad, Nov 6 (EFE).– Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province Wednesday ordered the closure of schools in major cities until Nov. 17 in response to severe pollution levels, a provincial minister said.
Primary schools in Lahore had already been closed for the week, but under the new order, all schools from grade one to grade 12 will be shut in four divisions of the province.
Chief Minister Marriyum Arangzeb made the announcement during a press conference in Lahore.
“Based on predictions of wind patterns and air quality index, we are closing all schools up to higher secondary levels,” Arangzeb said.
The affected areas include Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan divisions. During this period, schools will conduct online classes for students in the affected areas.
Additionally, 50 percent of staff in both government and private offices will work remotely, and all official meetings will be held online, according to the minister. Wearing masks is now mandatory in these regions.
A “smog war room” has also been set up by the provincial government to tackle the severe pollution, which has caused Lahore to be ranked as the world’s most polluted city for several days.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore was recorded at 1150 on Wednesday, with PM2.5 concentration reaching 286 µg/m³, which is 57.2 times the WHO’s annual air quality guideline value, according to IQAir, a Swiss group that monitors air quality.
Arangzeb pointed to pollution drifting from neighboring India, with deteriorating air quality in regions like Rajasthan affecting southern Punjab, including Multan.
She also cited the burning of crop residue as a significant contributor to the smog. Despite a ban on plastic bags, violations continue to exacerbate the pollution levels.
Late last month, the Punjab government had already imposed a “green lockdown” in designated smog hotspots, particularly in Lahore, in an effort to combat rising pollution. EFE
aa-ssk