The Lahore High Court on Monday directed all educational institutions in Punjab to stay closed on Saturdays until the end of January to curb smog as air quality in the province remains unhealthy.
A day earlier, the interim Punjab government had made face masks compulsory for residents stepping out of their houses in 10 districts. It had also previously imposed a limited lockdown to tackle the escalating air pollution levels.
However, these measures seemed to have little impact on the air quality, as the smog situation persists in Lahore and other districts.
According to the Air Quality Index, the AQI in Lahore at 11 am today was recorded at 293, which falls under the category of unhealthy. The main pollutant was PM2.5, which is a fine particulate matter that can enter the lungs and bloodstream, resulting in serious health issues.
