The Punjab government has issued directives for schools to be closed in five more districts, in response to the worsening smog situation.
Earlier, the provincial government issued detailed directives for Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala, where the markets were also ordered to be closed by 8 PM.
Now five more divisions will be shutting down schools to protect students and parents from the harmful effects of rising smog. These include DG Khan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions.
Government and private schools and colleges as well as tuition centers will remain closed in all these cities. Educational institutions have been advised by the government to conduct online classes to prevent the loss of academic time for students.
On Tuesday, Lahore continues to top the list of the world’s most polluted cities, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 773 in the early morning. The hazardous air quality has forced authorities to impose new restrictions in the city, including the closure of several motorways, as the region grapples with smog and pollution.
The toxic air, mostly originating from India, has engulfed the entire Punjab province, pushing Lahore’s AQI to alarming levels. Early in the morning, the AQI in Lahore was recorded at 773, and the smog rate reached a staggering 910. Key areas in Lahore, including DHA (AQI 1,236), Johar Town (AQI 991), Syed Marat Ali Road (AQI 1,256), and Ghazi Road Interchange (AQI 904), continue to experience dangerously high pollution levels.
