Punjab Expands School Closures to Five More Divisions as Smog Crisis Deepens
The Punjab government announced Tuesday that all public and private schools, as well as tuition centers, in Rawalpindi and four other divisions will be closed and will shift to online classes starting November 13 due to worsening smog conditions across the province. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the notification affecting DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions, adding them to the existing closures in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan. The closures will remain in place until November 17.
The EPA cited a significant increase in respiratory and eye-related illnesses, allergies, and pink eye as justification for the move, which aims to protect public health as air quality levels plummet. Lahore, the provincial capital, has borne the brunt of the smog crisis, with air quality reaching hazardous levels; it topped the Air Quality Index (AQI) with a staggering 791, CNN reported. The dense smog engulfing Lahore and other areas has been visible from space, according to NASA satellite imagery.
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Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF’s representative in Pakistan, expressed grave concerns over the health impacts on vulnerable populations, especially children and pregnant women. He warned that the heightened pollution levels this year would likely have severe, lasting health consequences, with more than 11 million children under the age of five exposed to dangerously polluted air.
As part of the government’s response to the crisis, outdoor activities, including sports events, exhibitions, and festivals, have been suspended in Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad until November 17. In addition, all shops, markets, and malls in affected areas have been instructed to close by 8 p.m. daily. Exemptions have been made for religious gatherings and essential rites, including funerals and related ceremonies.
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