All activities in Lahore schools suspended amid smog holidays
1. n its notification, district education authority also directs teachers to work online from home
LAHORE: The district education authority has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities in public and private schools across the city due to the ongoing smog crisis, which has made the air dangerously toxic for residents.
A notification from the authority stated that teachers are to conduct classes online from home during the "smog holidays" to ensure academic progress continues.
The suspension includes activities such as parent-teacher meetings, school trips, sports events, and any other on-campus gatherings.
The notification also emphasized that teaching staff in public schools must continue their duties online from home. However, anti-dengue measures will continue as per routine.
This decision comes as part of the Punjab government's efforts to mitigate the health risks posed by the smog, while allowing essential activities to proceed without disrupting students' education.
Lahore remains at the top of the Air Quality Index (AQI) rankings, with levels exceeding 700, which falls in the "hazardous" category. This is significantly higher than New Delhi, which recorded an AQI of 376 at 9:57 AM today.
The city’s AQI levels also surpassed 800 on Thursday, according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir, and reached alarming readings of 1,900 in some areas last week — more than 120 times the recommended safe limit.
Lahore’s air quality has remained dangerously high for weeks, exacerbated by pollution carried from neighboring India, as noted by Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
In response, the provincial government has ordered the closure of all educational institutions, both private and public, up to the higher secondary level in Lahore and other districts of Punjab until November 17.
