The Government of Punjab has announced three weekly holidays for schools in Lahore (closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) due to the increasing smog and worsening air quality in the provincial capital.
According to the details, the provincial government has issued a notification stating that all private and public schools in District Lahore shall remain closed every Friday and Saturday in addition to the weekly holiday on Sunday until further orders.
The development comes after the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed the Government of Punjab to notify closure of schools in Lahore for at least three days to combat increasing levels of smog in the provincial capital.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, has called smog situation in the city a “calamity”, adding that every step should be taken control the problem.
It is pertinent to mention that Lahore in considered one of the most polluted cities in the world when it comes to air quality with an Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering over 300-350 during months of October to February, per IQAir.
Therefore, the Government of Punjab, on the directives of Lahore High Court (LHC) has announced three weekly holidays in Lahore (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) until further notice.
This is a copy of the notification:
In related news, the Government of Punjab is mulling to ban cars older than 30 years in the provincial capital in order to deal with the worsening smog in the city. Furthermore, this is just one of many proposals being considered by the local government, including the introduction of car-free zones and a plantation drive to reverse the effects of climate change.
Read more: Punjab Govt Mulling to Ban Cars Older Than 30 Years in Lahore.
