Pakistan's Punjab province shuts public spaces in smog-hit cities

Lahore, Pakistan: Pakistan s most populated province of Punjab ordered public spaces closed in smog hit main cities, authorities said Friday, as the c...

Lahore, Pakistan: Pakistan's most populated province of Punjab ordered public spaces closed in smog-hit main cities, authorities said Friday, as the country battles record air pollution.

Access to parks, zoos, playgrounds, historic monuments, museums and recreational areas will be banned until November 17 due to poor air quality, according to a local government directive seen by AFP.

The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lahore's air was more than 20 times higher than the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Multan, it was up to 48 times higher on Friday.

Punjab residents have been trapped in thick smog for over a week ever since the air quality index (AQI), which measures a range of pollutants, spiked above 1,000 -- well above the level of 300 considered 'dangerous' -- according to data from IQAir.

Schools in some of Punjab's major cities were ordered shut on Tuesday until November 17.