LAHORE – The Punjab government has announced closure of primary to higher secondary schools in smog-hit cities till November 17 as air quality continues to worsens.
The schools have been closed in Lahore, Faislabad, Multan and Gujranwala division in order to save students from the pollution, which causes various throat, eye and skin infections.
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced the measures while addressing a press conference. She said the government has also made the use of face masks mandatory in the smog-hit cities, adding that measures are being taken to combat smog.
Lahore again becomes world’s most polluted city
The capital city of Punjab province, Lahore, again ranked the most polluted city in the world as air quality remains hazardous with AQI reaching 751 on Wednesday.
Data available on Swiss air quality monitor IQAir’s website shows the concentration of harmful particulate matter (PM2.5) pollutants that cause the most damage to health, surged to 451.5, which is 90.3 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.
The government officials said that smog-laden air pressure from India has worsened the air quality in Lahore, adding that the situation could be more worse in coming three days.
Smog War Room
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has set up a ‘Smog War Room’ to monitor smog mitigation activities and issue necessary directions to the relevant authorities.
