Pakistan's Lahore shuts schools as air pollution reaches record levels

Officials ordered schools in Pakistan's second-largest city to close for a week starting Monday as Lahore continues to grapple with dangerous levels of air pollution that have made it one of the world's most polluted cities.

The city held the top spot on a real-time list of the world's most polluted cities on Sunday after recording its highest ever pollution reading of 1900 near the Pakistan-India border on Saturday, based on data released by the provincial government and Swiss group IQAir.

"All private and public schools from nursery to fifth grade will remain closed," the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency announced in the notification. The closure will remain in effect through November 9, when officials will reassess conditions.

Director General Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh emphasized that the decision to give holidays was made in view of increased air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued instructions to the Punjab School Education Department to implement the closure.

"A decision regarding extension of holidays will be made on November 9," the agency added, indicating that the situation will be monitored throughout the week.

Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also confirmed the development during a news conference. "Because the direction of the wind from India is towards Lahore... Montessori, playgroup and primary schools up to Grade 5 are being given a week off," she said, adding smog counters have been established in hospitals.

Unprecedented levels of pollution

The announcement comes after air quality in Lahore reached unprecedented levels over the weekend, with the Air Quality Index briefly hitting 1,900 on Saturday.

The city has already implemented a "green lockdown" in various areas, including mandatory work-from-home policies for half of government and private employees starting Monday.

The restrictions also include bans on high-polluting rickshaws and limitations on street vendors.

Local authorities have cracked down on pollution sources this year, with police arresting more than 1,000 people and registering over 1,300 cases related to smog violations. Officials have also impounded more than 152,000 vehicles for substandard fitness and suspended nearly 10,000 vehicle fitness certificates due to excessive emissions.

The winter season typically intensifies Lahore's air quality crisis as cold, dense air traps vehicle and factory emissions at ground level, combining with smoke from seasonal crop burning to create hazardous conditions. Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to such high pollution levels can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.