The Lahore division, along with the districts of Gujranwala, Hafizabad, and Narowal, received instructions from the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Tuesday to close all public and private schools and offices from November 9 to 12.
The reason given was smog. This event occurred one week after the Lahore High Court ordered the Punjab caretaker administration to launch an immediate effort to reduce dangerous air quality, declaring a “smog emergency” throughout the state. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority declared a “calamity” due to smog and also outlawed burning crop leftovers. According to the global air quality monitoring platform iqair.com, Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) 447 on Tuesday. When the AQI is below 50, breathing is considered safe.
The provincial health department stated on Monday that the main causes of the conjunctivitis outbreak, which was spreading daily, were “bacterial or viral infection, smoke, dust, or chemical exposure.” Therefore, it emphasized the need for the Punjab province to implement all reasonable safety measures for the prevention and control of this disease. The department issued an order for “restricted movement” in the districts of Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Narowal, and the Lahore division, which includes Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, and Kasur. According to the agency, pollution could be a major cause of conjunctivitis in areas with the “highest air quality index.”
Important announcement for Lahore Division, Gujranwala, Hafizabad & Narowal: To combat SMOG & protect public health, there will be 'restricted movement' & closures of schools, offices, markets, shopping malls, restaurants & cinemas, from November 9 to 12. Stay safe & follow… pic.twitter.com/VwNctLRydK
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) November 7, 2023
From November 9 to 12, all public and private offices, restaurants, retail centers, theaters, gymnasiums, and marketplaces in these locations would be closed, as per the department’s directive. Public and private transportation would also be restricted for people traveling to and from these regions. There were a few exemptions, including pharmacies, medical supply stores, and gas pumps. Mohsin Naqvi, the acting chief minister of Punjab, announced earlier in the day that a comprehensive meeting of the provincial cabinet had been held to discuss the issue of smog-related problems facing the public. Naqvi also declared November 9 as a public holiday and announced that the provincial administration would declare November 10 a holiday for all offices and schools in smog-affected areas.
Naqvi conveyed that the health minister presented a thorough summary of the problems stemming from the smog. He highlighted the growing hospitalization rates and the challenges faced by the elderly in terms of breathing. Naqvi mentioned that although the current situation cannot be completely resolved, it is possible to manage and decrease it. He also pointed out that New Delhi had encountered similar situations, leading to actions like school closures. Additionally, they were keeping an eye on other cities in Pakistan and beyond with high levels of smog and grappling with tough decisions.
Chief Minister Naqvi assured that all measures would be enforced by the Inspector General of Police of Punjab and emphasized that this was a temporary situation. “Over the next four days, we’ll work to improve things.” The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a smog warning as well. The NDMA warned that fog in central and south Punjab, including Gujranwala, Multan, Lahore, Bahawalpur, and Faisalabad, was expected to reach “dangerous levels.” The notification also mentioned the potential impact on Islamabad and Rawalpindi, adding that Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Sahiwal may also experience smog.
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