After Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, schools in Lahore and Multan also reopened on Wednesday as the smog intensity decreased. The air quality Index (AQI) of Lahore was recorded at 282 on Wednesday.
According to the latest notification by the Environment Protection Department, regular academic activities resumed across all 36 districts of Punjab province. However, schools are still directed to implement the SOPs regarding protection from the adverse effects of smog.
Both public and private schools will not be allowed to open before 8:45 AM. Staff and students will be obligated to wear masks. The ban on outdoor sports and co-curricular activities is still in place.
Furthermore, the notification directs that the timings of schools be set according to the schedule of classes to avoid traffic pressures at any given hour.
The academic institutions have been allowed to reopen due to the decline in air pollution levels. However, despite this improvement, Lahore continues to maintain its position as the second most polluted city in the world.
The overall air quality index of the provincial capital was recorded at 282 on Wednesday morning. The highest air pollution in the city was recorded on Shimla Hill at 523, followed by 507 on Jail Road, 443 on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, and 229 on DHA Phase VIII.
