Punjab announces new school timings amid smog

LAHORE: Parts of central Punjab are fighting one of its worst smogs, with Lahore being the worst-hit metropolis; now, the government has revised school timings to curb the mounting air pollution crisis.

However, in the midst of smog mayhem, DG Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Imran Hameed Sheikh, has confirmed that henceforth all government and private schools, including those in Lahore, will open no earlier than 8:45 am from Monday, November 3, 2025. The revised schedule shall remain valid until January 31, 2026.

Officials said the move targets one of the biggest contributors to morning smog: school-hour traffic that clogs roads and pumps pollutants into the already suffocating air. “By easing early rush-hour pressure, the agency expects a noticeable drop in vehicular emissions,” it said in its statement.

This order is binding on all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, and the government has threatened severe action against violations. The fines could range from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1 million, depending upon the extent of the violation.

The decision is in the backdrop of alarming readings of air quality in the province, with Lahore averaging an AQI of between 301 and 400-a range described as hazardous to the health even of healthy individuals. Environment experts said prolonged exposure could cause severe respiratory problems to children and the elderly in particular.

The administration is hoping the new timings will bring some relief in the daily morning peak-hour congestion and, subsequently, reduce spikes in pollution. Citizens have also been advised to use protective masks, stay indoors if possible, and cooperate with the ongoing environmental drives to reclaim the province’s fast-deteriorating air quality.

This policy shift offers a glimmer of relief as Punjab wakes each morning under a blanket of smog, though experts say much stronger, longer-term action will be needed if the province is to clear the toxic haze that hangs over it.