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Lahore (Staff Report) – In the wake of worsening air pollution, the Punjab government has announced revised school timings from Monday, with daily classes to begin at 8:45am across the province. The move follows three consecutive days of Lahore ranking as the world’s most polluted city, as smog thickened over Punjab’s skies, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to a hazardous 412.
According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the pollution level has reached an emergency threshold, prompting a high alert across eastern districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Khanpur.
Smog Intensifying Through December
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warned that the intensity of smog is expected to rise from November through mid-December, based on forecasts from the Meteorological Department. He added that the PDMA has launched crackdowns on industrial, vehicular, and agricultural pollution sources, with local administrations instructed to enforce strict measures to curb emissions.
Revised School Timings to Protect Students
The decision to revise school timings was announced by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat via his official X (Twitter) account. He said the measure was necessary to protect children from early-morning exposure to dense smog, which peaks during cooler hours.
Many parents and teachers welcomed the move but urged the government to improve urban air management, noting that delays in addressing vehicle and factory emissions have turned smog into a chronic health hazard.
Marriyum Aurangzeb Unveils AI-Based Smog Forecasting
At a separate media briefing, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb introduced a digital and AI-powered smog forecasting system designed to predict pollution intensity and air quality changes.
The system, developed using historical meteorological and pollution data, provides daily air quality updates via the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online portal. Aurangzeb said it enables the government and public to take preventive actions a day in advance.
“This is the first time Punjab has a forecasting system based on artificial intelligence,” she said. “It’s accessible to everyone and helps us act before conditions worsen.”
“Smog Is a Seasonal Phenomenon”
Responding to public concern and criticism, Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasised that smog is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon, not an overnight spike caused by local pollutants alone.
“All those who have suddenly become environmental experts — let me clarify that smog forms when cold air creates a lid over the atmosphere. Particulate matter then gets trapped beneath this lid, causing the haze we call smog,” she explained.
She noted that temperature inversions typically last for three months, during which air pressure and wind patterns restrict pollutant dispersal. Aurangzeb added that AQI levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day — rising in the early morning and easing as temperatures warm.
Government Rejects “Lockdown Approach” to Smog
The senior minister also highlighted a strategic shift in Punjab’s smog response, saying the government is focusing on long-term environmental reforms rather than resorting to shutdowns.
“Previously, we managed smog by closing schools and businesses,” she said. “For the first time, we are managing the season without lockdown-style restrictions — and we are improving Lahore’s AQI.”
Aurangzeb added that the government’s efforts extend beyond the winter months. “We are active throughout the year, working on vehicle inspection, industrial emissions, and waste burning controls,” she said.
Health and Environmental Alerts Issued
The Health Department has advised citizens to wear N95 masks, avoid early-morning outdoor activity, and limit physical exertion in open spaces. Hospitals across major Punjab cities have been instructed to prepare for an increase in respiratory and eye irritation cases.
Environmental groups, however, argue that policy enforcement remains weak, citing open crop burning and unchecked traffic pollution as key causes of deteriorating air quality.
A City Gasping for Breath
As Lahore continues to record toxic air readings surpassing 400 AQI, experts warn that prolonged exposure could lead to severe health issues, particularly among children and the elderly.
While the new school timings may provide some relief, residents say the real solution lies in sustained emission control, mass transit expansion, and clean energy adoption — goals that remain distant as Punjab struggles to breathe under the smog’s heavy shroud.
