LAHORE – Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Wednesday rejected reports circulating on social media claiming that additional school holidays would be provided to students due to smog.
In a statement, the minister clarified that the Punjab government had not made any decision to announce additional holidays for schools due to weather conditions.
He stressed that all schools would continue their academic activities according to the regular schedule.
The minister’s statement comes amid speculation on social media about possible changes to the school calendar in response to smog conditions.
He urged the public not to rely on unverified reports suggesting that schools would remain closed for additional days.
Smog Condition in Lahore
Today, Lahore has once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted major cities, with air quality reaching extremely hazardous levels across several parts of the city.
According to IQAir, Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 453, placing it at the top of the global ranking. India’s capital, New Delhi, stood second with an AQI of 224.
Several areas of Lahore reported even higher pollution levels. IQAir readings showed an AQI of 706 at the CERP office, 690 in Allama Iqbal Town and 639 along Burki Road near Paragon. Raiwind recorded 509, while Kahna Nau reached 511. Another monitoring location in the city reported an AQI of 459.
Data from the Punjab Air Quality Monitoring system also indicated severe pollution across Lahore. Multan Road recorded an AQI of 500, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 541.1 micrograms per cubic metre and PM10 levels standing at 1,398.3 micrograms per cubic metre.
Safari Park and GT Road also reported AQI readings of 500. Meanwhile, Kahna Nau recorded 490, Gulberg III stood at 475 and Egerton Road registered 432.
Other areas were also affected, with Shahdara and DHA Phase 6 recording AQI levels of 392, Burki Road 390, Punjab University 373 and Wagah Border 256.
