Daily Times

The Punjab government on Monday ordered the reopening of schools across the province, apart from Lahore and Multan divisions, from November 19 in light of “improved” air quality.

As smog blanketed Punjab, the provincial government on Nov 6 announced the closure of public and private educational institutions across 18 districts from Nov 7 to 17. The recent smog situation was declared a “calamity” in Punjab last month.

Schools across Punjab were last week announced to remain shut till Nov 24. However, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) ranking on Sunday showed a slight improvement as it dropped out of the “hazardous” category for the first time in 12 days, the index showed. A notification issued by the Punjab government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said: “The ambient air quality has improved in most districts of Punjab, due to rain in upper parts of Punjab, change in wind direction and speed. Therefore, all the educational institutions, except Lahore and Multan Divisions, shall be opened with effect from Nov 19 (Tuesday) with physical presence of students/staff.”

It specified four restrictions to be followed by the schools, including all students and staff wearing face masks as well as not opening educational institutions before 8:45am.

It further said that there would be a “complete ban” on outdoor sports along with extracurricular activities and educational institutions would have to introduce staggered class-wise school closing timings to avoid traffic congestion. The Punjab School Education Department instructed chief executive officers to ensure compliance with the above directions. The EPA also ordered all schools to open in Rawalpindi division – Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal districts – from Tuesday with the physical presence of staff and students.

Separately, Punjab government on Monday evening has issued a notification to ease the ban on restaurants while allowing them to stay open till late. After improving the atmosphere, the ban on restaurants has been relaxed. Indoor dining restaurants will be open till 10pm tonight. The ban on serving food to customers by placing chairs in the open space will remain in place. The convenience of buying food from restaurants and taking it home will be available all the time.

Environment Protection Agency Director General Imran Hameed Sheikh issued a notification on Monday evening allowing restaurants to stay open till 10:00 pm.