ISLAMABAD: Almost half of all school-aged children in Pakistan, approximately 26 million, are out of school until at least the middle of November due to hazardous air pollution. This marks the second occasion this year that schools have closed to safeguard children’s health, as reported by Save the Children.
According to Relief Web, Pakistan has mandated the closure of all schools in its most populous province, Punjab, following a surge in air pollution levels. The provincial capital, Lahore, emerged as the most polluted city globally on Thursday. Real-time data from Swiss group IQAir classified Lahore’s air quality as ‘hazardous,’ with the city’s fine particulate air pollution, or PM 2.5 concentration, exceeding the World Health Organization’s annual air quality guideline by over 100 times.
In May, a severe heatwave prompted the closure of primary and secondary schools due to extreme temperatures. This event led Save the Children in Pakistan to launch a social media campaign to educate children and families on heatwave precautions. Earlier this week, Lahore authorities ordered the shutdown of primary schools for a week after the air-quality index reached record levels over the weekend, aiming to protect children from respiratory diseases.
Lahore, a city of 11 million people, has been engulfed in thick haze for most of the week. Last year, it was ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted cities, with crop burning, poor-quality vehicle fuel, and construction activities historically identified as significant contributors to the country’s air pollution issues. The provincial government has implemented mandatory mask-wearing in public, advised a work-from-home policy for 50% of the workforce, and moved all government meetings online until further notice.
Last month, Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency instructed schools in Punjab to grant a three-month leave of absence to children with medical conditions exacerbated by poor air quality. While air pollution affects everyone, children are particularly vulnerable due to their underdeveloped bodies, organs, and immune systems. They also absorb more pollutants than adults due to faster breathing rates.
Khuram Gondal, Save the Children Pakistan’s Country Director, expressed concerns about the situation: “Air pollution and hotter temperatures are leading to life-threatening dangers for children, including difficulty breathing and a higher risk of infectious diseases. It also disrupts education for children as we’re seeing in Pakistan right now. Nothing good comes from children breathing in toxic air. Although the government of Pakistan has taken some steps to curb this problem, we strongly encourage policymakers to urgently address air pollution, including through long-term solutions, to create a better future for children.”
Save the Children has been active in Pakistan since 1979, reaching at least 14 million beneficiaries, including children, through various programmes in health and nutrition, education, child protection, livelihoods, and humanitarian response initiatives.