The Punjab government has ordered to shift 50% of employees in its offices to online work in response to the rising smog levels in the province.

The directive, issued by Punjab Director General of Environment Dr Imran Hamid, applies to all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions across the province. The DG has dispatched the notification to all secretaries and heads of departments. 

Under the new guidelines, only half of the government staff will work on-site, while the remaining employees are required to work from home. Additionally, all inter-departmental meetings must be held online, and employees commuting to work must carpool to help reduce vehicle emissions contributing to smog.

While these guidelines apply to government employees across the province, a separate notification announces measures for staff of private offices in four divisions of Punjab. 

It says that 50% staff of all private offices, franchises and NGOs in four divisions of Punjab would have to work from home. The divisions include Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Multan where 50% of the staff would be obliged to work from home. 

It says the decision applied to private offices from Nov 13 to Dec 31 and has been taken in view of the increase in diseases due to smog. 

The notification says that emission of hazardous substances from transport vehicles is increasing the levels of smog. This measure, taken in view of increase in diseases due to smog, aims to minimize road traffic and decrease the release of harmful pollutants from transportation. 

The Environment Department has ordered the immediate implementation of these steps to address the severe smog impacting Lahore and other cities in Punjab. 

Also Read: Smog to increase across Pakistan in Nov, Dec: NDMA warns

The Punjab government has announced the closure of schools and colleges in five additional divisions due to dangerously high air pollution levels across the province.

The order, issued by the director general of environment Imran Hamid Sheikh, mentions educational institutions in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal divisions. All institutions, from nursery to grade 12, including academies and tuition centres, will remain closed from November 13 to 17.

This move expands the initial closures already in place in Lahore and surrounding areas, as the province continues to grapple with severe smog conditions. The environment department has emphasized that the closures aim to protect public health, particularly young students, from the adverse effects of the toxic air quality. 

Also Read: Pakistan braces for severe smog across major cities

Islamabad recorded an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268, surpassing the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended air quality guidelines by 38.7%.

Authorities have advised individuals with respiratory conditions to wear masks as a preventive measure against the hazardous air quality. 

According to the Met Department, dry weather in Islamabad and its surrounding areas is expected to persist, while there is a possibility of smog and fog covers over the city. 

In Punjab, smog and fog are anticipated during the mornings and evenings in Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sialkot, Hafizabad, and Toba Tek Singh. Similar conditions are likely in Jhang, Narowal, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mangla, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad.