In Punjab’s capital, Lahore, authorities have decided to move all schools for special children to online classes due to increasing air pollution. The step comes as smog levels worsen, making it hard for children, especially those with health issues, to attend school safely. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has played a major role in implementing this decision, with its Director General Imran Sheikh highlighting the situation’s urgency.
Imran Sheikh explained that these special schools are being closed to protect the health of children with respiratory issues, allergies, and heart conditions. Under this “green lockdown,” all stakeholders are strictly following SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to keep the impact of pollution low on these vulnerable students.
Lahore’s air quality situation is getting serious. As per IQ Air’s global rankings, Lahore is now the second most polluted city worldwide, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at a staggering 215. This AQI level is marked as “very unhealthy,” meaning the air quality is poor enough to cause harm, especially for children and those with existing health problems.
For now, these special students will continue learning online until there’s an improvement in air quality. While parents worry about the impact of such pollution on their children’s health, they also seem to appreciate the move towards online learning during this hazardous time.
 has played a major role in implementing this decision, with its Director General Imran Sheikh highlighting the situation's urgency.){kind=link}