From today, new school timings have been implemented in Lahore

Due to poor air quality, authorities have made changes to school schedules across Lahore. From today, government schools will open at 8.45 am with morning assemblies held indoors to minimize exposure to the toxic air.

On October 23, the Punjab Environment Protection Department issued instructions to relevant institutions to take urgent measures in response to rising air pollution levels. The government had announced changes to school hours to protect children and the elderly from the harmful effects of smog.

According to the instructions, all outdoor activities were to be suspended to limit children’s exposure to polluted air. Authorities have urged the public to take protective measures, including wearing masks and monitoring daily AQI levels through the Environment Protection Department app.

In an additional effort to tackle rising pollution, officials are preparing to cause artificial rain in hopes of clearing smog from the atmosphere.

Pollution levels in Lahore have reached dangerous levels, making the city the most polluted in the world, with an overall air quality index (AQI) crossing 530 on Monday morning.

According to recent data, polluted winds from neighboring India have worsened the city’s air quality, creating dangerous breathing conditions for residents. In some areas, AQI levels have risen above 800, with a record-breaking AQI of 818 in Gulberg.

The smog’s impact extends beyond schools and into Lahore’s air traffic. On a recent private flight from Karachi to Lahore, smog was experienced at the rear of the aircraft at altitudes of up to 1,500 metres. As the plane descended to 1,000 feet, the crew reported increased smog levels in the cabin.

The crew then informed the captain of the passengers’ complaints about the presence of smog, prompting the captain to forego the usual jet bridge and instead disembark passengers via manual ladders after pulling the aircraft to the side had parked off the runway.

With air pollution in Lahore reaching these critical levels, health experts are urging residents to wear masks outdoors and limit exposure as much as possible until conditions improve.