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Punjab Closes All Schools Till November 17 Amid Rising Smog and Air Pollution
Punjab government closes all schools until November 17 due to rising smog and air pollution. Online classes for half of private institution staff.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-12
Punjab Closes All Schools Till November 17 Amid Rising Smog and Air Pollution

The provincial government has ordered the closure of both public and private schools until November 17. This decision comes as air quality deteriorates, affecting the health of students and residents in various districts.

 

Initially, the closure had been limited to eight districts, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, DG Khan, Sargodha, and Sahiwal, where smog levels were particularly severe. However, due to rising health concerns, the government has now decided to extend the school closure to all districts in the province.

 

The Punjab Education Department has issued a notification instructing all government and private schools to remain closed for the duration of the smog crisis. The notification also directs that half of the staff at private institutions will transition to online teaching to continue education remotely.

 

This decision has been prompted by the significant deterioration in the air quality index and the surge in respiratory, eye, and throat diseases attributed to the pollution. Authorities cited the need to protect students from the harmful effects of smog as the primary reason for the closures.

 

Punjab Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat, commented on the situation, stating that while there is a sense of educational loss due to the school closures, the decision was made to safeguard the health of children. He emphasized that alternative strategies would be introduced to mitigate the impact of online learning challenges in the coming days.

 

As Punjab battles the effects of smog, this closure serves as part of the provincial government's efforts to control exposure to hazardous air quality, while also ensuring that education continues in a safe manner for students.

 
Tagged:

education

Smog

AirPollution

PunjabSchools

HealthSafety

OnlineLearning
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