The Punjab government mandates that all schools reopen on November 20

In response to better air quality, the Punjab government said on Tuesday that all schools in the state, including those in Lahore and Multan, will reopen on November 20.

Last month, Punjab’s severe smog issue was deemed a “calamity.” The Punjab government declared that all educational institutions in 18 districts would be closed from November 7 to November 17 as a result of the pollution condition getting worse on November 6. It shut down all of the province’s schools last week until November 24.

Due to the change in wind direction, the province’s position has improved over the past three days. For the first time in twelve days, Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) left the dangerous category on Sunday, indicating a minor improvement. In the upcoming days, the meteorologists anticipated that the level of smog would further decline.

With the exception of the divisions in Lahore and Multan, the Punjab government has also mandated that schools throughout the province reopen as of right now.

However, Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ordered in a notification released today, a copy of which can be found on Dawn.com: “The ambient air quality has improved in Punjab, due to rain in the upper parts of Punjab and changes in wind direction and speed.” Thus, starting on Wednesday, November 20, all educational institutions in the province, including those in Lahore and Multan Division, will open in person with staff and students.

It stipulated that schools may not open earlier than 8:45 a.m. and that both employees and kids had to wear masks.

Additionally, it stated that until additional directives are issued, outdoor sports and outdoor co-curricular activities will be completely prohibited.

In order to prevent road congestion, the agency mandated that all educational institutions implement class-wise school closure times.

All public and private educational institutions under its jurisdiction would operate on Wednesday, subject to the same EPA-mandated restrictions, according to a notification issued by Punjab’s Higher Education Department.

Additionally, it instructed college directors and university vice chancellors throughout the province to make sure that its directive was followed.