The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered a seven-day extension of the winter break for all Lahore educational institutions due to the persistent smog.
The Punjab School Education Department on December 14 declared that all public and private schools in the province will be closed from December 24 to December 31.
The LHC instructed officials last week to suggest to the school education department the implementation of a two-week winter break. Before this, the court mandated that schools be closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
According to Justice Shahid Kareem of the LHC, who was hearing public interest petitions on various environmental issues today, school and college breaks should be extended due to the chronic haze.
During the hearing, a Pemra representative who was also present informed the court that letters had been sent to satellite channels requesting that they air advertising promoting smog awareness and avoidance.
The court noted that smog was under considerable control. However, it stated that the government was in charge of preventing smog.
The Pakistan Disaster Management Authority’s director general was also called before the judge at the subsequent hearing.
The proceeding was postponed until January 6.
