Punjab Smog Alert: Schools May Close Soon

Punjab is facing worsening smog conditions, prompting speculation about potential school closures and early winter holidays, similar to last year. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings over deteriorating air quality across multiple cities, with Lahore experiencing particularly severe pollution.

Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached a hazardous level of 362, ranking it as the world’s most polluted city today. Authorities attribute the rising smog levels to persistently dry weather, which is expected to worsen in the coming days.

Last year, the Punjab government had closed schools for a week starting November 3, later extending the break by another week due to high pollution levels. This year, the Education Department and the Punjab government are monitoring the situation closely, but no official decision on closures has been announced yet.

Sources suggest that if smog levels continue to rise, authorities may consider closing primary schools as a precautionary measure. The Meteorological Department warned that air quality is likely to deteriorate further across eastern Punjab.

Health experts have cautioned that prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to respiratory problems, coughs, flu, and eye irritation, with children, the elderly, and patients being the most vulnerable.

Read More:Anti-Smog Guns Deployed in Lahore to Tackle Pollution

The Punjab government has launched modern technology to tackle smog, as anti-smog guns are now officially in use across different areas of Lahore. Their purpose is to reduce dust and pollution in the air and improve public health.

According to Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the effectiveness of these anti-smog guns has been tested using an AI-based environmental monitoring system. The machines spray fine water particles into the air to capture dust and pollution.