The Punjab government has announced the temporary closure of schools in several districts heavily impacted by intense smog, extending through November 17. Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb confirmed this measure, alongside a mandate for mask-wearing in public spaces to help safeguard residents from the hazardous air quality.
To reduce exposure, the minister also noted that 50 percent of both public and private offices will switch to remote work, while schools implement online classes to ensure students’ safety and continuity in education.
Among the districts most affected are Multan, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala, where smog levels have worsened, partly due to seasonal winds carrying pollutants from across the border. In response, the provincial government is preparing legislative changes to curb stubble burning, a farming practice contributing significantly to the air quality crisis during this season.
Lahore’s air quality has deteriorated to alarming levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a dangerous 1,165. Some areas within the city have reported even higher AQI measurements, such as Defence Phase VIII at 1,696, Davies Road at 1,464, and Gulberg at 1,306. According to the data, concentrations of harmful chemicals in Lahore’s air have reached levels 131 times beyond the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limits, posing serious health risks.
This comprehensive approach—spanning school closures, remote work policies, and stricter regulations on environmental practices—aims to alleviate the immediate health impact of the smog and address its root causes to improve air quality in the long term.
