Punjab shuts schools, colleges in five more divisions amid worsening smog

In response to the rising levels of air pollution, schools in five additional divisions of Punjab have been closed, with the closures set to remain in effect until November 17.

According to the notification, the affected divisions include Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, and Rawalpindi.

A notification issued by the Punjab government outlined that schools in these areas will remain closed, and private tuition centers will also suspend operations. In the meantime, all classes up to grade 12 will be conducted online.

This move follows earlier closures in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan divisions, which were already shut down due to similar concerns about air quality.

Lahore stands top with "very hazardous" air quality

Punjab is currently in the grip of smog with its capital, Lahore, being the most polluted city in the world. Data indicate that Lahore's air quality index (AQI) is nearly 74 times above the World Health Organization's recommended limit, reaching a hazardous level of 588 on average.

 

Lahore ranked first in the Air Quality Index (AQI), with New Delhi and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) ranked at second and third positions, respectively.

Seperately, the Punjab government banned most outdoor activities and imposed restrictions on the retail sector across four districts of the province on Monday, while complying with a directive of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in the wake of hazardous smog that showed no sign of dissipating.

The provincial government ordered all retail businesses in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala to pull their shutters down by 8pm, except for pharmacies, laboratories, vaccination centres, and other essential services as defined by law.

The notification issued on Monday stated that pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, vaccination centres, oil depots, tandoors, bakeries, grocery stores, fruit and vegetable shops, meat shops, e-commerce, postal and courier services, and utility services were exempt from these closures.

According to the notification, large departmental stores, however, might only keep their grocery and pharmacy sections open. Besides, the government also banned outdoor activities, including sports programmes, exhibitions, outdoor restaurant seating, and public gatherings after 8pm.

The police had been instructed to enforce these measures strictly to help reduce atmospheric pollution in the affected cities. The notification warned that strict action will be taken for any violations of these restrictions.

"Wedding halls, shops, and business centres will shut by 8pm," a senior police officer said. The law-enforcement is working alongside the environment protection department and the district administrations to ensure compliance of the notification, he added.

The Lahore police have also been tasked with implementing the anti-smog measures, including legal action against businesses and wedding halls if they violated the restrictions – dubbed the "green lockdown" to address the city's critical air pollution levels.