Smog surge forces school closures in Punjab, remote work Policies enforced

With heavy smog engulfing Punjab, the provincial government has ordered the closure of all public and private schools and colleges across 18 districts from November 7 to 17.

This drastic measure was taken as the air quality index (AQI) soared into hazardous territory, with Lahore particularly affected, registering an AQI as high as 1,165 on Wednesday morning.

Lahore’s AQI remained at alarming levels throughout the day, with readings in multiple areas reaching severe highs: Phase 8-DHA recorded 1,156, Syed Maratib Ali Road hit 822, and Askari 10 registered 813. Other cities such as Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad also reported dangerously high AQI levels.

Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb held a press conference announcing the school closures and advised educational institutions to shift to online classes. The Environment Department followed up with official notifications extending the closure to all levels of education, including A-level institutions.

This decision impacts districts including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Nankana Sahib, among others, with all schools transitioning to online learning during this period.

In addition, 50 percent of public and private sector offices are to implement work-from-home arrangements. Meetings in government offices will be conducted via Zoom, and mask-wearing is now mandatory. Hospitals reported around 900 cases of respiratory and throat infections linked to the smog.