Punjab schools closed amid smog crisis

The Government of Punjab announced the closure of all schools, from primary to 12th grade, across multiple cities in the province, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan, due to hazardous air quality levels.

The decision came as Lahore, the provincial capital, was ranked as the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 1,165, classified as “hazardous.”

The city of over 14 million people has been engulfed in smog for several days, a result of a mix of low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning, and winter cooling emissions.

According to air quality monitoring agency IQAir, Lahore’s AQI remained in the “hazardous” range throughout the day, posing serious health risks to residents.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that prolonged exposure to such toxic air can lead to severe health issues, including strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases.

As a precautionary measure, the provincial government issued a notification on Wednesday, announcing the closure of schools in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan from November 7 to November 17, 2024.

The notification also outlined that educational institutions in these regions would transition to online teaching for the duration of the closure.

The affected districts include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, and Khanewal.

Earlier, on November 3, the provincial government had announced that all schools for children up to the age of 10 would remain closed for one week due to the poor air quality.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urged both Pakistan and India to collaborate in tackling the smog crisis, calling for a united regional effort to combat the worsening environmental issue.

With the air quality in Lahore and other cities reaching dangerous levels, the closure of schools and the shift to online education aim to reduce exposure to the toxic air while ensuring that students’ education continues remotely during this environmental crisis.