In brief
Unprecedented air pollution levels in Lahore have prompted the closure of all primary schools for one week and a partial transition to remote work for city employees.
Lahore, facing its worst smog crisis yet, has been forced to close all primary schools for a week as pollution levels reach alarming heights. Starting Monday, 50% of office employees will also be working from home as part of a government-imposed "green lockdown." Additional measures to combat the smog include restrictions on engine-powered rickshaws and a ban on barbecuing without filters in street stalls.The air quality index (AQI) in the city peaked over 1,000 on Saturday, significantly surpassing the World Health Organization's dangerous threshold of 300. Lahore has now ranked as the city with the most polluted air globally for the second consecutive week. The alarming increase of fine particulate matter, which poses the most serious health risks, has drawn considerable concerns from public health officials.Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed urgent calls for mandatory masks in schools and emphasized that the prevailing smog poses serious threats, particularly to children. A senior environmental official linked the smog crisis to the burning of crop stubble across the border in India, calling it a "biggest headache." Aurangzeb stated that the Punjab government plans to initiate discussions with India regarding the issue through the foreign ministry.Authorities are currently advising residents to stay indoors and limit travel. In response to the dangerous smog, vehicles equipped with pumps are actively spraying water to mitigate air pollution, while construction activities have been put on hold in specific regions. The situation will be reevaluated next Saturday to determine whether schools will remain closed.Children have already been prohibited from outdoor activities until January, and school hours have been adjusted in response to peak pollution conditions. Parents are expressing severe anxiety over the situation, with one mother, Lilly Mirza, questioning the root causes of the drastic pollution increase compared to previous years.The winter months exacerbate the pollution problem, as cold air traps harmful particulates closer to the ground, leading to a severe health threat to the population. Inhaling toxic air is linked to numerous health challenges, including strokes, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses, as confirmed by the World Health Organization.
