LAHORE: Punjab continues to be choked by dense smog, with Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) hitting an extreme level of 824, leaving residents struggling to breathe amid the unprecedented pollution on Thursday. Currently, Lahore ranks as the most polluted city globally according to the AQI, which is causing severe respiratory issues for its population.

Meanwhile, New Delhi in India follows as the second most polluted city with an AQI of 428. In response to the worsening air quality, the Punjab government has announced the closure of schools up to the higher secondary level in affected districts until November 17.

The closures apply to schools in districts such as Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafiz Abad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, and Khanewal.

This decision comes as the province faces critical air pollution levels, impacting public health and particularly putting children at risk. Lahore’s persistent ranking as one of the world’s most polluted cities has led authorities to take immediate action.

Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb noted that wind patterns from India have directed polluted air towards Lahore for the past week, exacerbating the smog. She emphasized that cooperation with India is essential to address the issue effectively.

Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, also highlighted that the polluted easterly winds from India have intensified the AQI in Lahore.

For days, Lahore has been enveloped by a thick layer of smog, a combination of fog and pollutants from low-grade diesel emissions, seasonal agricultural burning, and the onset of winter. On Saturday, air pollution in Lahore surged to over 80 times the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Levels of PM2.5, the most dangerous pollutants for health, peaked at 1,067 before dropping to around 300 in the morning—far above the WHO’s recommended safe level of 10.