LAHORE (Kashmir English): Punjab’s top environment official Sunday said that the government and private schools in the province will not open before 8:45 in morning.
Director General Environment Imran Hamid Shaikh said that any violation of the timing will result in a fine .
New school timing would remain in force till Jan 31, 2026
According to the order issued by Punjab EPA, all public and private schools, as well as special education centres across Punjab, shall not open before 8:45am from Nov 3, 2025, and the new timing would remain in force till Jan 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.
The expert said that during October 19-30, the air quality index reading in Lahore soared from 300 to 400 due to increasing quantity of hazardous particulate matter in the air.
Lahore’s air quality, he said, has become extremely hazardous as the city become the second most polluted city in the world with AQI reading 346 on Sunday.
Indian capital city New Delhi remained the most polluted city of in world with air quality reading of 467. Health experts have advised citizens to use masks and avoid unnecessary travel.
