LAHORE – Punjab’s top environment official announced on Sunday that both government and private schools across the province will now open no earlier than 8:45 a.m. due to worsening air pollution levels.
Director General Environment Imran Hamid Shaikh said that any violation of the revised school timing will result in fines ranging from five to ten lakh rupees. The decision, he explained, was made in response to the alarming rise in smog across Lahore and nearby regions.
Read More: No let-up in smog as Lahore again emerges as city with worst air quality
He revealed that from October 19 to 30, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged from 300 to 400, indicating an increasing concentration of hazardous particulate matter in the air. “The air quality has become extremely unhygienic,” he said, noting that Lahore ranked as the world’s second most polluted city on Sunday with an AQI reading of 346.
In comparison, New Delhi topped the global pollution chart with an AQI of 467. Health experts have urged citizens to wear masks, limit outdoor exposure, and avoid unnecessary travel to reduce health risks.