Smog eases, classes resume across Punjab

Academic activities across 36 districts restored

ISLAMABAD:

The academic activities across the 36 districts of Punjab will be restored on Wednesday (today) as the provincial government announced physical attendance of the students at all schools including private institutions.

The provincial government announced the reopening of all educational institutions, including private schools, across Punjab, with Lahore and Multan Divisions included.

The decision came in light of improvements in the Air Quality Index (AQI).

According to a notification, all schools in Punjab will reopen on November 20, with physical attendance mandatory for students. Suspended for around two weeks, academic activities will resume in all 36 districts.

The Environment Protection Department, following instructions from the Punjab government, issued a notification stating that all educational institutions in Punjab, including Lahore and Multan Divisions, would reopen from November 20.

Physical attendance will now be compulsory, but schools have been directed to implement strict precautionary measures. All students and staff must wear masks, outdoor and extracurricular activities are banned, and schools are prohibited from starting classes before 8:45 am.

Moreover, staggered closing hours have also been advised.

Earlier, schools across Punjab were closed until November 24 due to worsening air pollution and smog.

However, with AQI improving in Lahore and other major districts, the government decided to reopen schools earlier than planned.

Schools in other divisions, except Lahore and Multan, had already reopened a few days ago.

Two weeks ago, the government initially announced school closures until November 17, later extending the closure to November 24 due to severe air quality and smog.

The decision was prompted by thousands of students reporting illnesses such as eye infections, coughs, fevers and chest conditions linked to smog. Online classes were advised during the period, though many challenges arose in implementing virtual education.

Last week, artificial rain in Jhelum, Chakwal, and other parts of Punjab helped improve air quality, enabling the reopening decision.

Special education institutions, also closed earlier this month, will reopen today. Administrators of these schools have been instructed to adopt the same precautionary measures as regular schools.

"This November, thousands of students suffered due to smog, and their education also faced a major setback," Kashif Adeeb Jawadani, president of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, said.

He said that teachers struggled to complete academic courses, while online education faced several challenges. "It's a relief that the Punjab government has finally acknowledged the difficulties faced by students and decided to reopen schools," he added.

Meanwhile, the public continues to suffer due to lingering smog. Over the past 24 hours, public hospitals across Punjab have reported 60,506 respiratory disease cases. This includes 3,771 asthma patients, 1,866 heart disease cases, and 627 individuals with eye-related ailments.

Authorities have urged schools to ensure health and safety protocols as academic activities resume in the province.