What Happened: Punjab has launched a “smog war room” to combat severe pollution in Lahore, closing schools and implementing daily monitoring as air quality reaches hazardous levels.
What you need to know: Punjab has established a “smog war room” to address its worsening pollution crisis, officials report, as Lahore’s air quality ranks it as the world’s most polluted city, forcing closures in some schools. According to live updates from Swiss monitoring organization IQAir, Lahore’s pollution index has reached 1,165, surpassing New Delhi, which recorded a score of 299.
What more: The “war room” will feature a committee that reviews weather and air quality forecasts daily and oversees the efforts of field officers, said Sajid Bashir, spokesperson for the provincial environment department. Staff from eight departments will collaborate, with one person designated to manage tasks like controlling farm waste burning and overseeing traffic to mitigate pollution.
Also: The war room will hold sessions twice a day to analyze data and forecasts, providing stakeholders with briefings on pollution control efforts and issuing daily advisories, officials informed Reuters. In response to the severe smog, Punjab authorities have ordered schools in certain areas to close until November 17, shifting to online classes to protect children and reduce pollution levels. Previously, only Lahore’s primary schools had been closed for a week.
Additionally: Despite recent actions, Lahore’s air quality index remains alarmingly high, though the current reading falls below last week’s unprecedented score of 1,900 in certain areas, which surpassed recommended safety levels by over 120 times. This severe pollution spike led officials to impose bans on some construction activities and encourage remote work to alleviate the situation.