Lahore district authorities have proposed the closure of all educational institutions including schools, colleges, and universities in the provincial capital for three days in the week.
The proposal to extend the closure of educational institutions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was sent to mitigate the severe smog that prevailed in the city.
The proposals submitted by Commissioner Lahore to Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb also suggested implementing a green lockdown in Gulberg and surrounding areas.
According to the media reports, the proposed green lockdown also includes Liberty, MM Alam Road, the Main Market, and areas near the Shimla Hills.
On Sunday, the Punjab govt announced a one-week closure of all primary schools and Grades 1 to 5 classes across Lahore in response to increasing smog levels. This measure aims to protect young children, who are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of polluted air.
A notification issued by the Department of Environmental Protection indicated that the decision to close primary schools was based on findings that smog poses a multitude of hazards to young children’s health.
Lahore AQI Level
The air quality in Lahore remained in the hazardous category on Monday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 382.
According to the global website Air Quality Index (IQAir), Lahore AQI has recorded 382, making the city particulate matter (PM2.5) levels over 53.2 times more threatening than the WHO-standard limit. This marked the worst air quality in the country for the day.
The day before, the AQI in Lahore, the country’s second-largest city, was recorded at 1073.
