Three-day weekend for Lahore school students on cards amid smog

LAHORE – Smog clouds engulfed Lahore and adjoining cities as air pollution fueled by vehicle emissions and stubble burning choked residents, and now the government is considering serious steps to save students from hazardous levels of air pollution.

Amid worsening air quality levels, schoolchildren in Lahore are likely to get prolonged weekend as authorities consider a Friday holiday from November. The ity is currently grappling with hazardous smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to hazardous levels of particulate matter.

Medical professionals warn that these conditions pose significant risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. The smog crisis is not limited to Lahore, with nearby cities also experiencing similar air quality challenges.

Smog Holidays in Lahore

To combat the worsening situation, Punjab government is exploring measures like potential closure of schools three days a week. Punjab Environmental Protection Agency is set to announce a final decision during a meeting scheduled for early November, with students closely monitoring the developments.

Meanwhile, a green lockdown has been implemented in most polluted areas, which restricts construction, limits auto-rickshaw usage, curtails the operation of commercial generators, and bans outdoor barbecues. Areas affected include Shalimar Hill to Gulshan Cinema and Abbott Road.

In light of the escalating crisis, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz plans to reach out to the Chief Minister of Indian Punjab for a collaborative approach to tackling smog, and a special assembly session will convene to discuss further actions.