LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: In response to worsening smog conditions, the Punjab government has mandated that 50% of employees in government offices switch to remote work.
This directive, issued by Punjab’s Director General of Environment, Dr. Imran Hamid, applies to government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions across the province, with notifications sent to secretaries and department heads. Under these guidelines, half of the staff will work on-site, while the other half will operate from home. All inter-departmental meetings are required to be conducted online, and employees commuting to the office must carpool to help reduce vehicle emissions.
A separate notification has also been issued for private offices, franchises, and NGOs in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Multan, where 50% of staff are required to work from home between November 13 and December 31. This measure aims to reduce smog-related illnesses and alleviate traffic-related pollution.
The Environment Department has called for the immediate implementation of these measures to tackle severe smog in Lahore and other areas of Punjab.
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In addition, the Punjab government has ordered the temporary closure of schools and colleges in five additional divisions due to extremely poor air quality. Educational institutions in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal will remain closed from November 13 to 17, adding to the initial school closures in Lahore and surrounding areas. The Environment Department stated that these closures aim to protect public health, particularly for students who are more vulnerable to toxic air.
Air quality across Pakistan has become a serious concern, with Islamabad recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268—well above WHO’s recommended levels. Authorities have advised those with respiratory issues to wear masks when outdoors.
According to the Meteorological Department, dry weather is expected to persist in Islamabad, along with possible smog and fog. Smog and fog are also anticipated during mornings and evenings in areas across Punjab, including Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Narowal, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mangla, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
