LAHORE – Parts of central Punjab are battling one of its worst smog, with Lahore being worst hit metropolis and now government revised school timings to curb the mounting air pollution crisis.
Amid smog mayhem, DG Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Imran Hameed Sheikh confirmed that all government and private schools, including those in Lahore, will now open no earlier than 8:45.am starting Monday, November 3, 2025. The new schedule will stay in place until January 31, 2026.
Officials said the move targets one of the biggest contributors to morning smog, school-hour traffic, which clogs roads and pumps pollutants into the already suffocating air. “By easing the early rush-hour pressure, we expect a noticeable drop in vehicular emissions,” the agency said in its statement.
The directive is binding for all educational institutions, and the government has issued a stern warning against violations. Schools flouting the order could be slapped with hefty fines ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1 million, depending on the severity of non-compliance.
The decision comes amid alarming air quality readings across Punjab, particularly in Lahore, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has surged into the hazardous range between 301 and 400 — levels considered dangerous even for healthy individuals. Environmental specialists have warned that prolonged exposure could trigger severe respiratory issues, especially among children and the elderly.
Authorities are pinning hopes on the new timings to ease morning traffic congestion and minimize pollution spikes during peak hours. Citizens have also been urged to wear protective masks, stay indoors when possible, and cooperate with ongoing environmental drives to reclaim the province’s rapidly deteriorating air quality.
As Punjab wakes each morning under a blanket of smog, this policy shift offers a glimmer of relief — though experts warn that much stronger, long-term action will be needed to clear the toxic haze hanging over the province.
Toxic smog grips Punjab, Lahore’s AQI reaches hazardous levels
