The provincial government of Punjab has adjusted school timings in response to worsening smog across the region. From Monday onwards, schools will begin at 8:45 am and continue until 1:30 pm, allowing students to attend classes in a safer window.
The change was announced on Sunday by Rana Sikandar Hayat, the Education Minister of Punjab, via his X account. He stated: “Winter school timing, 8:45 am to 1:30 pm.”
Separately, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, speaking to journalists in Lahore, said that a final decision on any further change in school timings would be made on Monday.
She added: “There is currently no situation that requires the closure of schools.”
In recent days, Lahore has ranked as the most polluted city globally, with a heavy haze blanketing the area and its surroundings.
The air quality monitoring platform IQAir recorded a US AQI of 349 at 9:43 am, placing it in the “hazardous” category, and a PM2.5 concentration of 249.5 µg/m³, nearly fifty times higher than the guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The toxic haze has persisted for days, reducing visibility and triggering widespread health complaints such as throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and itchy eyes.
Health experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activity and wear protective masks when needed.
The decision to alter school hours is part of a broader effort to reduce exposure of children to hazardous air during peak smog times.
It also aims to keep schools operational rather than resorting to closures amidst the seasonal pollution surge.
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