Smog emergency: Punjab announces closure of schools till Nov 17

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 06 Nov 2024

Lahore: The Punjab government on Wednesday announced the closure of all schools from primary to 12th grade till November 17 as poor air quality in Lahore pushed the capital of the province to the top of the rankings as the world’s most polluted city.

For days, the city of 14 million people has been enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and winter cooling.

In a notification issued today, the provincial government said that schools in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan will remain closed till November 17.

The notification said educational institutions would switch to online teaching between November 7 and November 17.

“This order shall come into force with effect from 7th November, 2024 (Thursday) and remain in force till 17th November 2024(Sunday) within the territorial jurisdiction of Lahore, Gujranawala, Faisalabad and Multan Divisions, i.e., district of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, and Khanewal,’’ the notification read.