Pakistani officials say dangerously poor air quality has forced the provincial government in Lahore to close primary schools for a week.

Pakistan's second city of Lahore will close primary schools for a week over record pollution, government authorities said Sunday, to avoid exposing millions of children to smog several times above levels deemed dangerous.

LAHORE: Owing to the hazardous smog, the Punjab government on Sunday announced that primary schools would remain closed for the next week in Lahore.According to an official notification,

Punjab government announced the closure of all government and private primary schools for one week, effective Monday.

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 bans on engine-powered rickshaws and vendors that barbecue without filters.

Unprecedented air pollution levels in Pakistan's second-largest city of Lahore prompted authorities to take emergency measures on Sunday, including issuing work-from-home mandates and closing primary schools.

Lahore has closed primary schools due to record pollution levels. Air pollution hit 40 times higher than acceptable. PM2.5 levels peaked at 610 micrograms per cubic meter, and the air quality index reached 1,

WHO

Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore for days as surging pollution spurs authorities to curb activities and set up a panel to oversee preventive efforts.

A toxic cloud of smog has swept over Pakistan and India, causing one of Pakistan's major cities to put schools on lockdown. On Sunday, the capital of the Punjab region of Pakistan, Lahore, held the real-time top spot as the world's most polluted city,