The Punjab government has announced new timings for all public and private schools across the province, with strict penalties for non-compliance.
According to the Director General of Environment Protection Punjab, Imran Hamid Sheikh, schools will not open before 8:45 a.m. Institutions found violating the directive will face fines ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million. The change has been ordered due to dangerously high levels of smog in Lahore and surrounding areas.
The director general said that schools breaching the order for the first time will be fined between Rs100,000 and Rs500,000, while repeated violations will incur penalties up to Rs1 million. The directive will remain in effect until 31 January 2026.
He added that strict measures are being enforced to protect the environment, as the Air Quality Index in Lahore reached alarming levels of 300 to 400 between 19 and 30 October.
