Punjab rules out school closures as smog persists, 30 factories shut

The Punjab government has decided against closing schools and colleges across the province and against imposing restrictions on market timings, according to The Express Tribune and Daily Pakistan.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said all schools will remain open and operate on their regular schedules. He wrote: "All Schools Are Open & operating as per schedule. pls Avoid Fake news". He urged the public not to believe misleading information about extra holidays.

Daily Pakistan reported that thousands of parents and students in Lahore and other large cities had sought clarity, and that social media carried claims of emergency closures or extended winter holidays. The government has made no announcement or decision on additional holidays or on bringing the winter vacation forward.

The Environment Protection Department has not submitted any proposal to close educational institutions or impose a market lockdown. Deputy Director Environment Lahore Ali Ejaz said no department had submitted such a proposal this year.

Air Quality Index readings have reportedly crossed 400 in several areas of Lahore and other Punjab cities, occasionally reaching 500 to 600, according to Daily Pakistan. Officials said smog in October was about 27% to 33% lower than in the same month last year, and a survey indicated a 27% decline.

Ali Ejaz said more than 30 factories involved in burning tyres had been shut and fined, on the directions of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. The fines run into millions of rupees. The transport department and traffic police are conducting daily operations at Lahore's entry points against vehicles emitting excessive smoke, while WASA, LWMC and the department use smog guns and wash roads.

Experts said smog generally keeps rising until November 15 and then begins to decline, and attributed the expected improvement partly to wheat sowing and less burning of crop residue. Ali Ejaz expects gradual improvement after that date.

Separately, PDMA Punjab has told departments to stay on alert for forecast rain in several districts over the next two days, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Multan and Sialkot. Strong winds are forecast in some southern areas, with hailstorms possible at isolated places. Winter holidays could start around December 21 or 22, but no final notification has been issued.