LAHORE
Polluted air persists in Punjab and Lahore remains on the top of the list of the world’s big cities with over 700 Air Quality Index reading.
Bad air continuing to haunt Lahore and several other cities of Punjab despite authorities’ desperate steps to curb smog.
Shrine city of Multan with its 1659 AQI reading has been the most polluted place of Pakistan with dangerous level of hazardous pollutants in the air.
The Lahore-Islamabad and Lahore-Sialkot Motorway sections have been closed for vehicular traffic owing to poor visibility caused by thick fog.
Punjab government recently announced closure of schools upto higher secondary level in smog hit districts of the province till 17 November.
The schools’ shutdown in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafiz Abad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chinniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodharan, Vehari and Khanewal districts.
The decision made as the province grappling with severe air pollution, which have soared to alarming levels, affecting the public health, especially of children.
Lahore has been consistently ranked top among the most polluted cities globally, prompting urgent action from authorities.
