Special children in Punjab will be granted holidays from November 1 to January 31, 2025, due to health concerns related to diseases triggered by poor air quality and smog.
Director General, Environmental Protection Agency (PAS) Imran Hamid Sheikh while exercising the powers conferred upon him under 6(1)(t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 issued the notification for the holidays.
“I hereby order that all the Schools of Special Education (both public and private) located in the territorial jurisdiction of district Lahore shall send those students on compulsory leave who are suffering from diseases which get triggered with poor, air quality like Broncho-vascular diseases (chest infections, throat infections, asthma, flu, cough, T.B., pulmonary problems, allergies etc.) or Cardio-vascular diseases (like Angina, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease etc.) or Immunodeficiency (like CVID etc.) with effect from 01-11-2024 (Friday) till 31-01-2025 (Friday),” read the notification.
Live: Air pollution index (AQI) of major cities of Pakistan
The AQI in Lahore has been recorded at “hazardous” levels since mid-October, raising concerns for the health of citizens, promoting Punjab government to impose ‘green lockdown’ in the provincial capital.
The Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, on Wednesday declared the smog situation in the province extremely dangerous and called for a session of the assembly to address the issue.
