Smog Crisis: Three-day school closure on the cards for Lahore

LAHORE: Due to the rise in smog, Punjab government is considering a three day weekend for Lahore schools and colleges.

Besides a three-day break with closures on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday adjusted school hours are also under consideration.

The spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that a decision to close schools in Lahore will be reviewed in the smog meeting scheduled for the first week of November.

GREEN LOCKDOWN IMPOSED IN LAHORE

Meanwhile the Punjab Environment Protection Department has also implemented a “green lockdown” in specific areas of Lahore to combat rising smog and air pollution.

According to a notification issued by the department, several high-pollution zones (“hotspots”) have been identified.

These include Davis Road, Egerton Road, Durand Road, and Kashmir Road. The areas encompassing Shimla Hill to Gulshan Cinema and Abbot Road are also designated hotspots, as are the areas from Shimla Hill to the Railway Station and Empress Road.

Smog alert: Lahore AQI reaches above 400

Queen Mary Road and its surrounding areas are also included in the high-pollution zones.

The lockdown restrictions include a complete ban on construction activities within these designated areas. Commercial generators are prohibited, and the operation of three-wheeled auto-rickshaws (chingchi rickshaws) is strictly banned.

Additionally, open-air barbecues are prohibited after 8 PM.

Lahore’s average air quality index (AQI) has reached an alarming 208, with specific areas recording even higher levels: Shimla Pahari at 170, Town Hall at 209, Punjab University at 199, U.S. Consulate at 322, UMT at 277, and Jail Road at 246.

This hazardous air quality places Lahore as the second most polluted city globally and the most polluted in Pakistan, underscoring the need for urgent preventive actions.