The Punjab government has changed school timings starting Monday due to intensifying smog across the province. All schools will now begin classes at 8:45 a.m., according to the revised schedule announced by the provincial authorities.
For the third consecutive day, Lahore has remained the most polluted city in the world, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 412, placing it in the hazardous category. Thick smog has engulfed the city, prompting severe health warnings and a province-wide crackdown on pollution sources.
Read More: Company Founded by Pakistani Entrepreneur Sold for $1.7 Billion
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert for several eastern districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Khanpur.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warned that smog intensity will likely rise from November to mid-December, citing forecasts from the Meteorological Department.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed the new timings on his X account, stating, “Winter school timing — 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.”
Meanwhile, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced that Punjab has introduced a digital, AI-based forecasting system that predicts smog conditions a day in advance using historical data. The system, accessible through the Air Quality Portal, is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Addressing public opinions, Aurangzeb explained that smog is a seasonal phenomenon, caused by temperature inversions that trap pollutants under a layer of cold air, forming the thick haze visible across Punjab.
