Record smog forces Punjab govt to also shut higher secondary schools

Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday announced that after the closure of primary schools, the Punjab government had now decided to close all schools up to the higher secondary level until November 17 in order to prevent students’ exposure to smog, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, she said that schools would remain closed in Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad divisions. “Today the air quality index (AQI) in Lahore rose to over 1,100,” she said, adding, “Lahore, Sheikhupura, Multan and Gujranwala are the most affected districts in the province.”

Marriyum said that instructions had been given to schools’ administrations to arrange online classes during this period.

She informed that tasks had been assigned to all departments to take steps to eliminate smog. “The provincial government has also approved 50 per cent attendance at 50 per cent private offices. Official meetings will now be held via a video link.”

The minister went on to say that smog was continuously entering Pakistan’s borders from India, and there was a need for both Pakistan and India to work together to get rid of this threat.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain