Punjab school timings revised amid worsening smog

LAHORE: Amid the worsening smog in Punjab, the provincial government on Sunday revised the school timings, with schools set to begin daily sessions from 8:45am.

The Punjab School Education Department notified the revised timings just hours after Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed the same on his X account.

As per the revised schedule, schools will conduct classes from 8:45am to 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday, while on Friday, schools will close at 12:30pm.

In line with the trends of recent years, Lahore ranked as the most polluted city globally today, with heavy smog enveloping the city and its surroundings.

According to IQAir — the air quality monitoring platform — Lahore recorded a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 at 9:43 am, placing it in the “hazardous” category.

The PM2.5 concentration was measured at 249.5 µg/m³ — nearly 50 times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual air quality guideline.

The toxic haze has left the province shrouded for days, reducing visibility and causing widespread health complaints, including throat irritation, breathing difficulties, and itchy eyes.

Public health experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activity and wear protective masks when necessary.