LAHORE – Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb has hinted at closing schools again, stating that more decisions could be taken if the smog situation worsens again.
The minister said schools have been reopened across Punjab in view of children’s education.
The statement comes as Lahore has once again ranked world’s second most polluted cities, according to live city rankings available on IQAir website. The air quality in Lahore is hazardous as AQI stands at 303, shows the Swiss monitoring agency.
PM2.5 concentration in Lahore is currently 45.3 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value, it said.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said despite the improvement in the smog situation, the anti-smog campaign will continue at full pace. Despite the opening of the school, the precautionary measures should continue to be strictly implemented. Teachers and students should ensure the use of face masks.
She said parents and students should adopt the method of carpooling and keep the load of vehicles to a minimum on the roads.
She said that 15 more brick kilns operating without zigzag technology were also demolished. Nine in Multan, five in Rahimyar Khan and one in Jhang were razed. Three FIRs were also registered against three industrial unit cells in Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupora for spreading pollution.
It is recalled that the Punjab government has ordered reopening of schools across the province, including Lahore and Multan from November 20 following an ease in smog situation.
