The Punjab government has declared the closure of all public and private schools and colleges, from primary to higher secondary levels, as an immediate response to the severe air pollution in the region.
Due to dangerously high smog levels, educational institutions in the Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan divisions will switch to online learning beginning November 17.
Punjab’s Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb stated that the smog, mainly caused by crop burning and industrial emissions, has significantly worsened the region’s air quality.
To protect students and staff, Aurangzeb encouraged schools to transition to online learning during the ongoing smog crisis.
Aurangzeb stressed that health and safety are the top priorities, with the temporary shift to online education acting as a precautionary step to protect young children and students from the harmful effects of pollution.