Web Desk 
Oct 26, 2025
The Punjab government on Sunday notified new timings for schools across the province in the wake of health risks posed by the worsening smog crisis in the province.
Minister for Education Rana Sikandar announced that school timings will start from 8:45am, taking effect from October 27 (Monday); while the students will get off at 1:30pm.
The minister added: "The school timings have been changed keeping in view the current situation of smog across the province."
Earlier today, Lahore was ranked as the most polluted city globally. According to the air quality monitoring platform IQAir, Lahore recorded a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 at 9:43 am, placing it in the “hazardous” category. The PM2.5 concentration was measured at 249.5 µg/m³ — nearly 50 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline.
It should be noted that smog has left the city shrouded for days, reducing visibility and causing widespread health complaints, including throat irritation, breathing difficulties and itchy eyes. Public health experts have advised residents to limit outdoor activity and wear protective masks when necessary.
