In response to worsening air quality across the province, the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced revised school timings, effective Monday (tomorrow), to help reduce smog and safeguard public health.
According to a directive issued by Punjab EPA Director General Dr. Imran Hamid Sheikh, all public and private schools, including special education centers, will open no earlier than 8:45 a.m. from November 3, 2025. The revised schedule will remain in effect until January 31, 2026.
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The EPA has warned that schools violating the new timings will face strict penalties. Fines will range between Rs100,000 and Rs500,000 for the first offense and between Rs600,000 and Rs1 million for repeated violations.
The decision follows alarming air quality readings in Lahore and nearby districts between October 19 and 30, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuated between 201 and 400 — levels deemed “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy.” The EPA attributed the spike to stagnant weather patterns, temperature inversion, and calm winds that caused pollutants to remain trapped near the ground.
Dr. Sheikh stated that early morning school traffic was a major contributor to particulate emissions. He said the timing adjustment was a practical step to reduce smog during peak hours and protect children’s health.
Separately, the Environment Department warned that polluted easterly winds from India were further worsening Lahore’s air quality.
