Punjab shuts schools in five more divisions as smog worsens

RAWALPINDI: With stubborn smog continuing to smother citizens across Punjab, the provincial government on Tuesday announced the closure of all public and private schools and a shift to online classes in Rawalpindi and four other divisions.

As per the notification issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "All the educational institutions, including tuition centres (public/private up to Higher Secondary Level (12th Grade/ A-level) shall remain closed and will shift to online mode with effect from November 13, 2024 (Wednesday) within the territorial jurisdictions of DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Sargodha and Rawalpindi Divisions as well till November 17, 2024."

This development comes as all public and private educational institutions up to the higher secondary level in Punjab are already closed, with orders for virtual classes in four other divisions — Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan — until the specified date.

According to the EPA notification, the decision was made due to an "unprecedented rise in patients with lung and respiratory diseases, allergies, eye and throat irritation, and pink eye" across the province.

Provincial capital Lahore has been facing the brunt of the prevailing smog crisis and has repeatedly topped the list

The city's, which once again ranked as the city with the worst air quality with AQI of 791, dense smog is even visible from space as reflected in the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (Nasa) satellite imagery, CNN reported on Tuesday.

The situation has even warranted concerns from the United Nations Children's Fund's (Unicef) representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil who has said that the severe smog will have "devastating effects" on young children and pregnant women.

Expressing concern over the health of children, Fadil said that more than 11 million children under the age of five are exposed to toxic air.

"The impact of this year’s extraordinary smog will take time to assess but we know that doubling and tripling the amount of pollution in the air will have devastating effects, particularly on children and pregnant women.

A day earlier, the provincial government banned all outdoor activities in Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad till November 17.

Besides the suspension of all outdoor activities including sports events, exhibitions and festivals, dining in restaurants, the shops, markets and shopping malls have been directed to close by 8pm.

However, religious congregations, unavoidable religious rites including the last rites, funeral prayer, burial and related events have been exempted from the ban.