Lahore Closes Schools as Air Pollution Reaches Dangerous Levels

Lahore, Pakistan, is battling a severe air pollution crisis, prompting authorities to close all primary schools for a week. Starting Monday, half of office workers will work from home as part of a “green lockdown.” Engine-powered rickshaws and unfiltered barbecues are also banned to help reduce pollution.

The city’s air quality has plummeted, with the air quality index (AQI) exceeding 1,000—far above the “dangerous” level of 300 set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stressed the importance of masks for students to protect them from harmful smog.

The pollution is largely due to crop waste burning in neighboring India, swept into Pakistan by strong winds. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors, and measures like water-spraying vehicles are being deployed to combat the smog.

As winter approaches, the crisis is expected to worsen, raising concerns among locals about their health and safety.