Earlier this morning, on Thursday, the air quality index of Lahore had crossed the dangerous levels of 500 and took the city back to the top spot on the list of most polluted cities in the world.
The AQI of Lahore was recorded at 504, while within the city the pollution level in Cantt was recorded at 644, 587 on The Mall Road and 570 in Gulberg, raising alarm bells among the authorities.
Amid the worsening air quality with the onset and prevalence of smog in Lahore and other districts of Punjab, caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that schools, colleges and all educational institutes will remain closed in 10 districts of the province on Friday and Saturday.
He also announced that air-purifying towers would be installed in Lahore, while 10,000 students would be given electric motorbikes on subsidy.
Government offices would also operate at 50% capacity. It was also proposed to set up pickets in the city after imposing the soft smog lockdown on Friday and Saturday.
Artificial rain will be conducted if the clouds are closer to Lahore on November 29, the CM said, adding he was not in favour of closing markets, so they will open at 3pm on Friday and Saturday.
All kinds of markets will remain closed on Sunday, while restaurants will also open at 3pm.
The government has also decided to double the spray of water on roads. On Sunday, The Mall road will be open to only cyclists from morning to 5pm.
