By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – The provincial government of Pakistan's northeastern Punjab province on Friday announced tough measures to protect people from high levels of smog, prohibiting them from visiting parks, zoos, and playgrounds.

"Due to deteriorating smog situation, the Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has ordered to tightened the measures. All parks, zoos, museums, sports venues have been completely banned," the Punjab government said in a statement posted on X.

In a separate statement, the provincial Environmental Protection Agency said people are not permitted to enter parks, zoos, or playgrounds due to the worst environment situation caused by ongoing smog, primarily in central Punjab, which includes the provincial capital of Lahore, as well as Gujranwala and Faisalabad, and the southern city of Multan.

The decision came after the air quality index (AQI), which measures a range of pollutants, spiked above 500 on Friday in Lahore, well exceeding the "dangerous" standard of 300.

On Sunday, the AQI recorded above 1,000 level, prompting the administration to close all elementary schools in the provincial capital.

Later, the government also closed middle and high schools to protect children from negative impact of smog.

This is the second time schools have been closed this year to protect children's health.

Earlier, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that Lahore's air quality index had reached 500 over the past 24 hours, which is still harmful, and advised people to stay at home.

On Thursday, Save the Children said almost half of all school-aged children in Pakistan or about 26 million, will be out of school until at least the middle of November due to hazardous air pollution.

In a related development, the Lahore High Court ruled on Friday that trucks and other large vehicles cannot enter Lahore as they contribute to the city's smog and environmental degradation.