Punjab schools to remain closed on Friday , Saturday    

• A meeting of Cabinet Committee for Anti-Smog was held.
• Sources said department has decided to close all schools.
• Lahore is in first place in list of most polluted cities.

LAHORE:  The Punjab government has decided to keep educational institutions closed on Friday and Saturday in certain districts to prevent smog.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Anti-Smog was held under the chairmanship of caretaker Chief Minister Punjab, in which it was decided to close the markets, gyms, cinemas, theaters, and factories completely on Saturday, while restaurants, take-away and home delivery only were to be closed on Saturday.

Sources said that the department has decided to close all schools, colleges, and universities on Friday, while the proposal to impose a soft smog lockdown is also under consideration to combat smog in Punjab.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi said that he is not in favor of closing the markets at all, the AQI level is higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon, so there is no problem in opening the markets till night.

He said that there are severe effects of smog in six districts, in Lahore including Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, and Sargodha divisions. The markets will open on Fridays and Saturdays at three o’clock, while all kinds of business will be closed on Sundays. Mall Road will be open for cycling only from morning to 5 pm.

He said that preparation is also going on for artificial rain to reduce smog. He directed citizens to use a mask.

Mohsin Naqvi said that it has been decided to give electric motorcycles to the people on subsidy and it has also been decided to give electric motorcycles to government employees on installments.

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It should be noted that Lahore is in first place in the list of the most polluted cities, where the Air Quality Index has been recorded at 504.