Schools Closed for a Week in Lahore Due to Smog; Work from Home Mandate Issued

Lahore: The Punjab government has announced a week-long closure of schools for primary classes in response to worsening smog conditions. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb made the announcement during a press conference, stating that the wind pattern from India is expected to continue impacting Lahore throughout the week.
Aurangzeb urged parents to provide masks for their children attending school and advised the elderly and children to wear masks when outdoors. She emphasized the importance of staying indoors unless necessary.
In addition to school closures, the government has instructed 50% of employees to work from home to minimize exposure to the hazardous air quality. The use of auto-rickshaws (Chingchi) has been banned within a one-kilometer radius of green zones.
The minister mentioned that while artificial rain technology had previously been imported from the UAE, various departments now possess the capability to create artificial rain. She stated that they would implement this technology as soon as conditions allow.