LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced to keep schools from primary to higher secondary level i.e. 12th class closed till November 17 and has also made it mandatory for everyone to wear masks.
The closure will also affect schools teaching O and A level classes, an official notification on Wednesday said.
Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced the move in a press conference and then a notification was issued by Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Imran Hamid Sheikh.
The notification states that educational institutions will go online for teaching between November 7 and November 17.
“… all educational institutions including private tuition centres (public private) up to higher secondary level (12th class/A level) will remain closed and will shift to online mode,” the notification read and added, “This order comes into effect. It will come into effect from 7th November 2024 (Thursday) and remain in force till 17th November 2024 (Sunday) in the territorial jurisdiction of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan Divisions i.e. District Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala. Gujarat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Wahari and Khanewal.
Meanwhile, during a press conference in Lahore, Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that various departments are actively working to deal with smog and a control room equipped with modern technology has been set up to monitor air quality index.
Aurangzeb highlighted that burning of crop residues is a major factor contributing to worsening smog, and violations continue despite the ban on plastic bags.
She warned that people not wearing masks are at risk of inhaling harmful methane.
The minister also recommended shifting girls to online education, noting that deteriorating air quality in Indian regions such as Rajasthan has affected cities such as Multan and Gujranwala, with Lahore’s air quality index exceeding 1,000. has gone
She added that in both government and private offices, only 50 percent of staff will be allowed to work on site, and virtual meetings will be mandatory in government offices.
A mask requirement will be enforced in all areas, with smog expected to persist for at least the next ten days.
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