The Punjab Education Department (PED) has implemented immediate emergency restrictions, suspending all outdoor activities in public and private schools across the province. This significant action targets the worsening air quality and high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels currently affecting health, particularly among students.
The official directive, issued to all Chief Executive Officers of District Education Authorities (DEAs), confirms that morning assemblies, outdoor sports, and physical training sessions must stop on days designated as “smog-affected.” This step is part of a broader health advisory aimed at shielding children from respiratory illnesses caused by continuous exposure to toxic air.
According to official sources quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the measures prioritize student safety. An SED official stated that instructions have been issued:
“To suspend outdoor activities and sports in schools during smog days, and it has been decided to launch an awareness campaign for teachers, parents and students to protect them from smog” (Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, October 3, 2025).
Key Directives for Schools to Mitigate Smog Risk
To enforce the ban and ensure a safe environment inside school premises, the Education Department has mandated several steps, starting with heightened monitoring and reporting.
- Suspension of Outdoor Activities:
- Morning assemblies are suspended.
- All sports events and physical training sessions must be stopped.
- Students must remain indoors during periods of high smog concentration.
- Air Quality Monitoring and Reporting:
- District Education Authorities are ordered to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily and relay instructions to schools promptly.
- Schools must send weekly compliance reports, including details of awareness campaigns and appointed focal persons, to the Education Department.
- Health Awareness Campaigns:
- Schools are required to run health awareness drives for students, teachers, and parents.
- Focus areas include wearing face masks, maintaining hydration, and limiting unnecessary outdoor exposure.
- Updates on awareness activities, including photos and videos, must be shared on the schools’ official social media platforms.
- Classroom Safety and Waste Management:
- School heads must maintain clean and ventilated classrooms.
- Windows and doors should remain closed during peak smog hours to prevent polluted air entry.
- The burning of garbage or litter within school premises is strictly prohibited, making safe waste disposal mandatory.
- Medical Preparedness:
- Schools must keep detailed emergency health records for students suffering from conditions like asthma or heart disease.
- A focal person must be nominated in each district to establish an emergency communication channel with local health departments, ensuring quick medical response if a student faces breathing difficulties.
The implementation of these measures underscores the government’s recognition of smog as a public health emergency. This immediate action aims to safeguard the academic and physical well being of Punjab’s student population during this dangerous season.
