Punjab’s capital city, Lahore, continues to grapple with dangerously high pollution levels, which have placed it at the top of the global Air Quality Index (AQI) rankings. The city registered AQI levels exceeding 800 on Thursday morning, while pollution levels have at times soared beyond 1,000 in recent weeks, according to data from Swiss air quality monitor IQAir.
The hazardous smog, attributed partly to pollution carried by winds from neighboring India, has forced the provincial government to take emergency actions. Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb cited the escalating health crisis, with hospitals witnessing a surge in respiratory cases across Lahore and other districts, including Multan, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala.
In response, all educational institutions in affected regions have been ordered to shift to online classes until November 17, with tuition centers and academies also closed. “This is not a holiday; it’s a safety measure to protect against severe pollution exposure,” Aurangzeb stressed in a recent press conference.
To further curb public exposure, Punjab has mandated mask-wearing in public spaces and directed public and private offices to implement a 50% remote work policy. Government meetings are now conducted online, while the Smog War Room, a recently launched monitoring hub, tracks air quality data round-the-clock and coordinates departmental efforts to combat pollution.
