Official hints at closing universities, colleges as air quality deteriorates in Lahore

LAHORE: The air quality continues to deteriorate in Lahore as it was again ranked the world’s most polluted city, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 661 on Sunday.

The thick layer of dust and smog blocked sunlight from reaching the ground on Sunday, causing severe difficulties for commuters and citizens alike.

The smog has led to the spread of respiratory, heart and other diseases among people especially children and elderly.

Meanwhile, authorities have advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and wear masks and glasses if venturing outside.

The Punjab government has already closed schools and colleges in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Multan until November 17.

Recreational areas and parks in Lahore have been closed until the same date.

Also read: Several motorways closed across country due to smog

Additionally, heavy traffic has been banned from entering Lahore on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and on regular days, it has been allowed into the city after midnight.

The Punjab government said that it banned entry to parks, zoos, playgrounds and other public spaces to protect the public from polluted air.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. There’s a possibility of closing universities and colleges on Monday to reduce vehicle emissions,” said Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Environment Protection Department Punjab told Reuters.

In addition to shutting schools, the province has already taken other steps such as suggesting half of employees work from home and banning rickshaws in certain areas.

South Asia annually faces severe pollution due to trapped dust, emissions and stubble burning – the practice of setting fire to fields after the harvest of grain.

Punjab has attributed this year’s particularly high pollution levels to toxic air from neighbouring India, where air quality has also reached hazardous levels.

Punjab has set up a “smog war room,” using satellite, drone technology and AI to monitor and address pollution.

Nevertheless, Jahangir Anwar said there is not enough equipment to effectively monitor the province, with only four air quality monitoring machines for the entire city of Lahore, “whereas we should have 50”.

He said the department had imported and deployed five mobile monitoring units and plans to deploy eight more by year-end.

Ahmad Rafay Alam, an environment lawyer and member of the Pakistan Climate Change Council, stressed the need for robust data and policy changes.

“Right now, we just simply don’t have those monitors, we simply don’t have as robust data as we should have to make decisions,” Alam said.

He warned that without addressing fuel quality, renewable electricity and industrial emissions, the problem will continue to worsen.