LAHORE: The provincial capital is grappling with severe air pollution, prompting authorities to consider extending weekly school holidays from two to three days starting November 2024.
If approved, students will get an additional holiday on Fridays, alongside Saturdays and Sundays, to minimize exposure to hazardous smog. The Punjab government has also adjusted school hours temporarily and may change them further.
The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stands at 215, deemed “very unhealthy,” and ranks Lahore as the second most polluted city globally.
To combat escalating air pollution, Lahore officials have imposed a “Green Lockdown” in several areas, including Abbot Road, Empress Road, Queen Mary Road, Davis Road, Egerton Road, and Kashmir Road.
Despite measures, smog levels persist above 500. Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, DG Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, implemented the lockdown targeting specific pollution hotspots.
In addition, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is leading efforts to curb vehicle emissions and dismantle polluting brick kilns. Experts warn that significant air quality improvements may take 8-10 years.
