Lahore Schools Shut Amidst Unprecedented Air Pollution Levels

Unparalleled levels of air pollution in Lahore, Pakistan, have compelled authorities to close all primary schools for a period of one week. Starting Monday, 50% of office employees will also transition to remote work, as part of a “green lockdown” initiative. Further measures include prohibitions on engine-driven rickshaws and street vendors who operate barbecues without appropriate filters. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, “This smog is very harmful for children, masks should be mandatory in schools.” On Sunday, Lahore, which is Pakistan’s second-largest urban center, ranked as the city with the most polluted air globally for the second occasion. Data provided by IQAir indicated that the air quality index (AQI), which assesses various pollutants, surpassed 1,000 on Saturday. This figure is significantly higher than the 300 threshold deemed “dangerous” by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, the concentration of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere, recognized as the most detrimental to human health, also reached dangerously high levels. Raja Jehangir Anwar, a high-ranking environment official, identified the burning of crop residue, or stubble, across the Indian border as the “biggest headache” contributing to the smog. Aurangzeb commented that these fumes were “being carried by strong winds into Pakistan.” She asserted, “This cannot be solved without talks with India,” and further mentioned that the provincial administration intended to commence these discussions through the foreign ministry. The government is advising residents to remain indoors and refrain from non-essential journeys. Specialized vehicles fitted with pumps are dispersing water into the atmosphere to aid in managing the smog levels. Building activities have been suspended in specific localities. The conditions will be re-evaluated next Saturday to determine if schools will continue to be closed. According to the WHO, breathing in contaminated air can lead to severe health repercussions, such as strokes, heart ailments, lung cancer, and various respiratory illnesses. In the previous month, students were prohibited from engaging in outdoor physical activities until January, and school timings were modified to prevent children from commuting during periods of peak pollution. Lilly Mirza, a 42-year-old, conveyed her feelings to AFP news agency, stating, “As a mother, I am full of anxiety.” She added, “Last year was not this bad… Somebody needs to tell us what has happened. Did a pollution bomb explode somewhere?” The severity of the smog crisis intensifies during the winter season, as colder, denser air causes pollutants to become trapped nearer to the earth’s surface. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.