LAHORE: The government of Punjab has decided to closed the primary schools in Lahore for a week owing to intense smog.
Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Maryam Aurangzaib said that the intense smog currently affecting the city is primarily due to stubble burning across the border and strong winds coming from that direction.
The Senior Minister announced that a War Room is operational around-the-clock within the Environment Protection Department to monitor updates regarding the smog situation.
She urged farmers to refrain from stubble burning, highlighting that the Punjab Government is taking strict action against violations of the ban. Several arrests have already been made for such violations, and for the first time in the province’s history, illegal brick kilns responsible for air pollution have been demolished.
Marriyum Aurangzeb also announced a one-week closure of primary schools in Lahore due to severe smog conditions. She emphasized the urgent need to protect children and vulnerable populations from hazardous air quality.
In addition to school closures, the government has advised that 50 percent of the workforce should work from home to minimize exposure to polluted air. She requested that parents should provide masks to their children and keep them indoors as much as possible.
Furthermore, she highlighted measures being implemented to mitigate the effects of smog, including a ban on certain vehicles within a one-kilometer radius of green zones.
Marriyum Aurangzeb reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the immediate health risks posed by deteriorating air quality while seeking long-term solutions to combat smog in the province.
