Lahore High Court has ordered the Punjab government to close all educational institutions in the province till the last week of January in view of the levels of air pollution.

In a written order issued in the petitions seeking measures against smog, Justice Shahid Kareem ordered the deputy commissioner to issue a notification for the closure of all schools, universities and colleges on Saturdays.

The order also said that the government is working to begin work-from-home for government employees for two days every week.

However, the LHC also raised objections to a notification restricting activities on weekends to fight smog.

The order said that the word ‘gym’ should be removed from the notification. It added that the notification had been issued using a section used for the coronoavirus lockdown which is no longer applicable.

The court also ordered departmental action against officers who had not performed their duty to combat smog.