Punjab ordered public spaces closed in smog-hit main cities, authorities said Friday, as the country battles record air pollution.

Access to parks, zoos, playgrounds, historic monuments, museums and recreational areas will be banned until November 17 due to poor air quality, according to a local government directive seen by AFP.

The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lahore’s air was more than 20 times higher than the level deemed acceptable by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Multan, it was up to 48 times higher on Friday.

Punjab residents have been trapped in thick smog for over a week ever since the air quality index (AQI), which measures a range of pollutants, spiked above 1,000 – well above the level of 300 considered ‘dangerous’ – according to data from IQAir.

Schools in some of Punjab’s major cities were ordered shut on Tuesday until November 17.

The province extended that order on Wednesday to several more cities enveloped by smog, a mix of fog and pollutants caused by low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning and winter cooling.

Seven cities in Pakistan are leading in environmental pollution, with Multan ranking first with an air quality score of 2,135, Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said.

Lahore follows in second place with a score of 738, Peshawar is third with 290, Islamabad fourth with 245, Haripur fifth with 219 points, Rawalpindi sixth with 192, and Karachi seventh with a score of 106.

Aurangzeb warned that further deterioration of smog conditions is expected next week and that violations of environmental laws related to smog control will result in arrests and fines.

She urged parents to keep their children indoors, emphasising that staying home from school does not mean a day off for outings.

The decision follows restrictions imposed last month on four “hot spots” in Lahore that banned tuk-tuks with polluting two-stroke engines, along with restaurants that operate barbecues without filters.

Seasonal crop burn-off by farmers on the outskirts of Lahore also contributes to toxic air, which the WHO says can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.

Excess pollution shortens the life expectancy of Lahore residents by an average of 7.5 years, according to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.

According to UNICEF, nearly 600 million children in South Asia are exposed to high levels of air pollution, which is also linked to half of childhood pneumonia deaths.

50% of employees ‘will work from home’

The provincial government has decided that 50% of employees in all government and private offices would work from home online, sources said. A notification is expected next week.

To combat increasing smog levels, plans are also under way for schools to operate online for two or three days. Government offices would implement a system where half of the employees would work on one day while the other half will come in the following day.

For private offices, a work-from-home proposal is being considered for Fridays. This approach aims to reduce transportation on the roads, which is anticipated to help decrease smog levels.

Sources added that if the Punjab government’s strategy proves successful, a similar formula may be adopted in other cities where smog poses a significant threat.

It is also contemplating officially designating Fridays and Saturdays as public holidays. There are also suggestions to close shops and markets by 8pm, implement a 50% attendance policy in schools, and alternate student attendance—where half would attend one day and the other half the next.

Additionally, proposals include making all government vehicles smog-free and banning the use of all government vehicles older than ten years. These measures are expected to be in effect until February.

Meanwhile, the Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department reported that 129,000 individuals in Lahore are affected by illnesses associated with poor air quality. Authorities have arrested seven people for violating the “green lockdown”.

The Environmental Department has developed a plan to conduct artificial rain in Punjab, expected to take place on November 11 and 12.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, artificial rain will be initiated as soon as weather conditions in Lahore become favourable. It has been over a month since the last rainfall, which occurred on October 6, leading to a significant increase in smog intensity.

LHC orders closure of markets by 8pm

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the closure of all commercial spaces by 8pm daily and a complete closure on Sundays in an effort to curb the severe smog plaguing the city.

Justice Shahid Karim, while issuing the order, remarked that despite repeated hearings and calls for action, effective measures to control smog remain lacking. He stated a desire to avoid issuing orders that are impossible to implement.

The ruling follows the presentation of performance reports from various government departments regarding smog mitigation efforts before Justice Karim. The court directed authorities to restrict entry of vehicles onto motorways and Ring Road, and to completely ban the entry of trucks and trailers into the Lahore.

The court highlighted trucks and trailers as major contributors to smog and environmental pollution. It ordered the deployment of police officers to control heavy traffic.

Justice Karim expressed frustration, noting that the court has repeatedly urged the government to take action on smog control at every hearing.

(With input from AFP)