Punjab alters school timings amid severe smog
Pakistan
Punjab revised school timings due to severe smog; schools opening before 8:45 a.m. will face fines up to Rs 1 million.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Under the directive of the Environment Department, school timings across Punjab have been changed, and violators will face heavy fines.
According to Punjab’s Director General of Environment, Imran Hamid Sheikh, all public and private schools in the province are prohibited from opening before 8:45 a.m. Schools violating the order will be fined between Rs 500,000 and Rs 1 million.
The decision was made due to the dangerously high levels of smog in Lahore and surrounding areas.
Imran Sheikh added that repeat violations will incur fines up to Rs 1 million, and the order will remain in effect until January 31, 2026.
He noted that strict environmental protection measures are ongoing, as Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) ranged between 300 and 400 from October 19 to 30.
