Punjab revises school timings as smog crisis deepens

WEB DESK: The Punjab government has announced new school timings starting Monday (today) as dense smog continues to choke major cities across the province. Classes will now begin at 8:45am daily, the provincial education minister confirmed on Sunday.

The move comes as Lahore retained its position as the world’s most polluted city for a third consecutive day, with air quality reaching “hazardous” levels and the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 412. Health advisories have been issued, and the authorities have launched an extensive crackdown on pollution sources. Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed the new winter schedule on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Winter school timing — 8:45am to 1:30pm.”

According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), a high alert has been declared in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Khanpur. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warned that the intensity of smog is likely to worsen from November through mid-December, based on forecasts from the Meteorological Department.

Meanwhile, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told reporters that the province had deployed a digital and AI-powered forecasting system to better monitor and predict air quality patterns. Developed using multi-year data, the tool is publicly accessible through the Environmental Protection Agency’s online air quality portal, which updates forecasts a day in advance.

Addressing public concern over the worsening haze, the minister said smog was a seasonal weather phenomenon caused by temperature inversions that trap pollutants close to the ground. “Cold air acts as a lid over the atmosphere, preventing particulate matter from dispersing,” she explained.

Marriyum noted that pollution levels often peak in the early morning due to lower temperatures and then ease as the air warms up during the day. She added that smog guns, machines that spray water mist to suppress dust—were only a temporary and limited solution.

“For the first time, we are managing smog without shutting down schools, restaurants, or enforcing lockdown-style restrictions,” she said, adding that the government’s smog mitigation efforts now continue year-round, not just during the winter months.