Punjab education department have notified that all the schools and colleges will remain close all over punjab from Nov 13, 2024 to Nov 17, 2024. This includes all the public and private sector schools in the vicinity of Punjab province. Wherever, the facility is available, these educational institutions will switch to online mode and classes will continue as per routine but from home.
This decision was taken in wake of prevailing smog condition in the province and the related reduced visibility. Smog which was only a problem for city of Lahore from few weeks is recently seen in other cities of Punjab, as far as the city of Rawalpindi. Also the adjacent city, Islamabad, got affected by the smog. However, this notification only applies to the schools in territory of Punjab province.
Smog have engulfed the whole province Punjab and situation is worsening day by day. Things are not looking to get better soon unless otherwise some surprise rainfall comes. So keeping in view the current situation of smog, it is expected that probably Punjab govt will have to announce more school closures in the coming weeks.
In situations like Smog, the school closures not only protect the students and teachers but also help reducing the emotions which take place daily from the vehicles which are responsible for transportation of students and teachers.
Along with closing educational institutions, Punjab govt have to take other solid steps, in order to deal with smog issue permanently. This includes devising emission standards for vehicles and keeping checks, so that people strictly follow them. Keeping checks on industries so that they adopt alternate techniques to filter the emitted smoke before emitting into environment.
Another way to deal with smog can be installing the towers to suck and filter the air. These towers have been installed by many countries including India and UAE. One tower can clean the air with one Kilometer diameter with tower on the center. It will not be easy to cover the whole province but atleast start somewhere. Also lots more can be done in this regard including restricting the farmers from burning their crops.