The Punjab government has announced a week-long closure of primary schools across Lahore due to worsening smog conditions. Provincial minister Maryam Aurangzeb made the announcement, stressing the need to protect children and vulnerable groups from the poor air quality.
Aurangzeb pointed to wind patterns carrying air from India, which are expected to persist, making it challenging to curb the smog. “We can’t halt or redirect the incoming air from India; dialogue is the only way forward,” she remarked, calling for cross-border cooperation to address the environmental issue.
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Beyond school closures, the government has advised that half of the workforce should work remotely to limit exposure to polluted air. Parents are also being urged to provide masks for their children and encourage indoor activities.
Additional efforts include a ban on specific vehicles within one kilometre of designated green zones. The minister noted that the technology for artificial rain, originally acquired from the UAE, is now locally accessible, with plans to deploy it under suitable conditions.
These measures, according to the government, aim to reduce immediate health risks associated with the hazardous air while paving the way for longer-term initiatives to tackle Lahore’s smog crisis.
