Smog holidays are being widely discussed on social media as air quality levels continue to worsen across several Punjab cities.
Several social media users have called for schools to be closed due to worsening air quality.
However, it is pertinent to mention that no official statement or notification regarding smog holidays has been issued by the Punjab government so far.
In previous years, the government did announce smog-related holidays and school closures in cities such as Lahore and Multan when air pollution reached hazardous levels.
However, as of now, there is no official indication that smog holidays will be announced in the coming days.
How is Punjab government tackling rising smog?
The Punjab government has launched a province-wide anti-smog and air pollution control campaign under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
As part of the campaign, anti-smog guns and mist-spraying vehicles are being deployed across thousands of kilometres of urban roads to control air pollution and suppress road dust.
However, air quality in Lahore remains unhealthy, although pollution levels are comparatively better than those recorded during previous periods.
Current air quality in Punjab cities
As of 10:45pm on Saturday, Multan recorded Pakistan’s highest AQI at 437, placing it in the hazardous category, followed by Raiwind, a town near Lahore.
According to the real-time Pakistan AQI city ranking, Lahore stood at eighth place, while Peshawar ranked tenth.
