LAHORE: The Punjab government has closed all government and private schools for 10 days after the air-quality index hit a record high again on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that public and private schools, and colleges, would remain closed in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad divisions.
The Punjab Environment Department has also issued a notification closing all educational institutions in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, and Narowal.
Schools in Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, and Vehari, will also remain closed for ten days.
As per the notification, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, both private and public, will remain closed for in-person classes up to Class XII and A Levels for ten days.
The closure will be effective from November 7 to 17, senior minister of the province Marriyum Aurangzeb has said.
The notification states that all educational institutions would shift to online classes during this period to ensure the continuity of education.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the government has decided that 50 per cent of government and private offices would work from home.
The measures were part of the Punjab government’s larger effort to protect children from respiratory-related and other diseases in the province.
Last week, in response to the deteriorating air quality and worsening smog conditions in the Punjab government had announced one-week holidays for primary schools in Lahore.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lahore continued to remain in the ‘Hazardous’ category on Wednesday, with the city retaining its title as the most polluted in the world.
The AQI of Lahore, home to more than 14 million people, was recorded at 1115 at 9am on today, according to the Global website on pollution, Air Quality Index (IQAir).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lahore is predicted to remain ‘Hazardous’ on November 6, 7, and 8, according to IQAir.
The AQI is forecasted to remain above 600, which falls in the ‘Hazardous’ category. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has advised citizens to take precautionary measures to stay safe from smog.
What is the Air Quality Index?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells us how clean or polluted the air is, with scores ranging from 0 to above 500. It is useful for determining whether the air is breathable without endangering one’s health. The figure which it mainly focuses on is called PM2.5 or air quality index.
PM2.5 musk is a tiny particle present in the atmosphere which is not even visible. These particles can come from vehicular emissions, industrial production, and combustion gases as well. Due to their tiny size, they are capable of entering the human body through the lungs and causing health issues.
The AQI is not static rather it worsens or improves depending on what time of day it is. In case the level of PM2.5 crosses the limit of 9.0 μg/m³, it is considered harmful.
