LAHORE: The Punjab Environment Department has revised school timings across the province, directing all public and private institutions to open no earlier than 8:45am as smog continues to intensify in Lahore and nearby regions.
Director General Environment Imran Hamid Shaikh said on Sunday that any violation of the new timing would result in fines ranging from five to ten lakh rupees.
The decision follows a sharp deterioration in air quality, with Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rising from 300 to 400 between October 19 and 30. The high concentration of hazardous particulate matter has pushed the city’s air quality into the “extremely unhealthy” category.
Lahore ranked as the world’s second most polluted city on Sunday with an AQI of 346, while New Delhi topped the list at 467.
Health experts have urged citizens to wear masks and limit outdoor movement as authorities implement emergency measures to curb smog-related hazards.
