Lahore continues to choke under dangerously high levels of smog that have pushed air quality into the hazardous zone for weeks. On Thursday, Lahore was leading the list of most polluted cities in the world with a very hazardous AQI reading of 784 according to IQAir. This is turning out to be the longest period with toxic air in the city.
Lahore has continuously remained amongst the top polluting cities, whose AQI is consistently reaching above 1,000 for weeks continuously. The continuous pollution has taken a heavy toll on public health, and cases of respiratory problems are being admitted to hospitals. Other cities of Punjab like Multan, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Gujranwala are also facing the same spell.
Skewed air quality has completely made performing daily activities extremely difficult to sustain for the inhabitants. One can say that breathing has become a task and this is leaving people prone to respiratory diseases. To save themselves from pollution, doctors have prescribed residents masks whenever they go outside.
Due to a health emergency, the Punjab government has ordered the closure of all private and government schools up to the higher secondary level in Lahore and other districts. Closure is reportedly to remain in place until November 17 per a government notification. The tuition centers and academies in the area would also be kept shut.
A government spokesperson, Aurangzeb, said that the only way to avoid such hazardous exposure to air pollutants for the students is shifting to online learning. “All the educational institutions will shift to online classes,” read the notification. Schools in the Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan divisions can stay open remotely until November 17 to favor public health.
The air quality remains precariously high, with the AQI touching 1,150 on Thursday from 500 the previous day. This exposes the children of the city to a serious health hazard. She asked the parents to keep their children indoors and temporarily resort to online schooling. She clarified, “It is not a holiday but a required step to minimize exposure to hazardous air quality.”
ANI
