Pakistan’s Punjab shuts schools, sets up ‘smog war room’ over air pollution
Al Jazeera
Record-high air pollution is sending more people to hospitals and clinics, according to doctors in Lahore.
Authorities in the Pakistani province of Punjab have ordered educational institutions in several areas to close until November 17 and shift to online teaching to protect children and curb pollution.
The province, home to more than half of Pakistan’s 240 million people, had earlier closed primary schools, curbed tuk-tuks and shuttered some barbecue restaurants in megacity Lahore.
“Looking at the predicted air wind and air quality index, we are closing all higher secondary schools,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in Punjab, during a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday.
Live rankings by Swiss group IQAir gave Lahore a pollution index score of 1,165, followed by the Indian capital of New Delhi, with 299.
“This morning’s AQI crossed 1,100 … I appeal to citizens, that for God’s sake don’t come out of your houses,” Aurangzeb added.
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