LAHORE (Kashmir English): As the provincial capital of Pakistan, Lahore, continues to face worse smog conditions, the district administration has announced new restrictions on the business operating hours.
This move aims to curb smog and to protect the residents of Lahore from the deadly diseases smog can cause, especially to children and elderly people.
Lahore New Market Timings
According to the notification issued by the district administration, the markets across Lahore will now close at 10 pm from Monday to Saturday. Whereas the restaurants and cafes are required to close by 11 pm.
To further reduce the traffic and crowd moments of weekends, the markets will operate from 2 pm to 10 pm on Sundays, whereas restaurants are allowed to provide services till midnight (12 am), and the home delivery services can be availed till 2 am, the notification stated.
However, some essential services are exempted from the new rules and regulations, which include medical stores, Petrol Stations, hospitals, milk shops, laboratories, and tyre puncture shops.
Officials added that the decision has been taken in view of worsening air quality levels and the urgent need to reduce smog-producing activities during peak evening hours.
The administration, while stressing that the restrictions were binding, warned that any violation would attract strict legal action.
Hazardous air quality has persisted in the city for weeks, with Lahore continuing to remain one of the most polluted cities in the world. Health experts continue to advise people to wear masks, avoid unnecessary travel, and stay indoors as much as possible.
The residents of Lahore have been facing extreme difficulties in breathing and performing day-to-day chores amid this disastrous smog.
School Timings
Earlier, the Punjab EPA issued an order stating that public and private schools, as well as special education centres across Punjab, shall not open before 8:45 am from November 3, 2025, and the new timing would remain in force till January 31, 2026.
The official warned that any school found violating the new timing restrictions would be penalised with fines ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs500,000 for the first violation, and Rs600,000 to Rs1 million for subsequent offences.
He said that the timings have been changed owing to increasing smog in Lahore and the adjoining regions.
Smog-Free Punjab Drive
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has been taking profound steps to deal with the smog. CM Punjab has launched several programs under the ”Smog Free Punjab” scheme, including traffic control, water sprinkling, and industrial inspections.
According to the latest events, Modern mechanization is replacing the traditional burning of crop residue in order to reduce emissions.
More than 5,000 Super Seeders, 814 Kubota machines, harvesters, and 91 balers have been distributed among farmers, converting more than 600,000 bales of residue so far. For compliance and to monitor their enforcement, “Hawk Eyes” thermal drones will be deployed for the first time, assisted by real-time identification of violations.
Water sprinkling has been initiated to reduce dust and soil pollution in important urban areas, and construction sites are being covered to prevent the spread of dust.
More than 300,000 fitness certificates have been issued under the new vehicle testing regime, ensuring that vehicles on the road will not emit fumes beyond permissible limits. Similarly, industrial emissions are also being closely monitored.
As many as 8,500 industrial units across Punjab have been brought under an AI-based centralized monitoring system, which allows for real-time tracking of emissions. Brick kilns have been ordered to switch over to zigzag technology, which minimizes smoke output.
An Emission Testing System for vehicles has been initiated for the first time in Pakistan to accurately measure pollutants. In addition, in order to overcome smog and dust, Punjab has installed 371 mist sprinkler systems, while more than 8,596 sites are being monitored through AI and drone surveillance to check anti-smog rules.
The province has also brought forth its own AI-based Air Quality Forecasting System under the “Clean and Green Punjab” vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. For the first time, a digital forecasting platform has been introduced aimed at predicting and managing pollution trends for proactive policy decisions.
