Rawalpindi Division Schools Set to Reopen Amid Improved Smog Conditions

RAWALPINDI: Schools in the Rawalpindi Division are set to reopen and resume normal classes from 19th November 2024, as per a notification by the Environment Protection Agency(EPA).

The Punjab government’s previous closure order, which was issued in response to pollution conditions, has been lifted. This decision pertains to schools in the districts of Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, and Chakwal.

The notification emphasizes that all students and staff must be physically present, as online classes will no longer be allowed in these regions. The smog in the Rawalpindi Division was recently removed by a recent spate of rain, which resulted in the exemption. Schools in Murree had already been exempted from the initial closure and remained operational.

Schools throughout the province were required to close until November 24th, as a result of the deteriorating pollution conditions, as mandated by the Punjab government last week. However, artificial rain has recently resulted in an improvement in the purity of the air in certain regions of Punjab.

The province’s maximum pollution level is currently held by Rahim Yar Khan, with an air particulate measurement of 669. Bahawalpur and Lahore are presently at 443 and 402, respectively.