Unprecedented air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore has forced authorities to close all primary schools for a week.
From Monday, 50% of office workers will also work from home, as part of a “green lockdown” plan. Other measures include banning motorized rickshaws and vendors grilling without filters.
“This smog is very harmful for children, masks should be compulsory in schools,” Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, topped the world's list of cities with the most polluted air for the second time on Sunday.
The air quality index, which measures a range of pollutants, surpassed 1,000 on Saturday, well above the benchmark of 300 considered “hazardous” by the World Health Organization, data shows from IQAir.
The level of fine particles in the air, the most harmful to health, has also reached dangerous levels.
Raja Jehangir Anwar, a senior environment official, said the “biggest headache” causing the smog was the practice of burning agricultural waste, called stubble, across the border Indian.
Aurangzeb said the fumes were “carried by strong winds to Pakistan”.
“This cannot be resolved without negotiations with India,” she said, adding that the provincial government would initiate such discussions through the foreign ministry.
The government is urging people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Vehicles equipped with pumps spray water into the air to help control smog levels. Construction work has been halted in some areas.
The situation will be assessed again next Saturday to determine whether schools should remain closed.
Inhaling toxic air can have catastrophic health consequences, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and some respiratory illnesses, according to the WHO.
Last month, pupils were banned from exercising outdoors until January and school timetables were changed to stop children traveling when pollution levels are highest.
“As a mother, I am full of anxiety,” Lilly Mirza, 42, told the AFP news agency.
“Last year wasn't so bad… Someone needs to tell us what happened. Did a pollution bomb go off somewhere?”
The smog crisis is worse in winter, when colder, denser air traps pollutants closer to the ground.
