Educational institutions to remain closed every Friday, Saturday as Punjab battles smog
Pakistan
Markets to open at 3pm on Friday and Saturday
LAHORE (Dunya News) - In a major decision on Thursday, the caretaker Punjab government announced closure of educational institutions every Friday and Saturday (till the smog situation improves).
Interim Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the decision after he was briefed on the measures taken by a commission working to find ways and means to curb smog.
It was decided in a meeting that educational institutions would remain closed in 10 districts of Punjab every Friday and Saturday. The decision will be implemented in Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Multan divisions.
The Punjab government issued a notification in this regard.
Naqvi later spoke to media and said the Punjab government had decided to go for three weekly offs - Friday till Sunday - for the educational institutions. He said the government would give a subsidy to 10,000 students who will opt to purchase electric bikes for travelling.
Moreover, he said, the government was not in favour of closure of markets so these would open at 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays and remain closed on Sundays.
He said preparations were being made for an artificial rain as well as setting up smog towers to lessen the problems people had been facing due to smog.
Also Read: Smog: Lahore continues to be world's second most polluted city
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s second largest city, Lahore, remained the second most polluted city of the world for the second successive day on Thursday as haze dimmed the sun.
The average air quality index (AQI) of the city was recorded at 272 in the morning. However, AQI on The Mall was 474 and at Amir Town 385 which is regarded as highly unhealthy.
According to the Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Lahore is expected to be 12 degrees Celsius and the maximum 26 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the people of Lahore seem oblivious to the hazards of smog as they pay no heed to recommendations of the provincial government and doctors to wear masks. Cases of respiratory problems are on the rise.
