Pakistani officials say dangerously poor air quality has forced the provincial government in Lahore to close primary schools for a week.

Pakistan's second city of Lahore will close primary schools for a week over record pollution, government authorities said Sunday, to avoid exposing millions of children to smog several times above levels deemed dangerous.

Unprecedented air pollution levels in Pakistan's second-largest city of Lahore prompted authorities to take emergency measures on Sunday, including issuing work-from-home mandates and closing primary schools.

LAHORE: Owing to the hazardous smog, the Punjab government on Sunday announced that primary schools would remain closed for the next week in Lahore.According to an official notification,

Unprecedented air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore has forced authorities to close all primary schools for a week. From Monday, 50% of office workers will also work from home, as part of a "green lockdown" plan. Other measures include bans on engine-powered rickshaws and vendors that barbecue without filters.

Punjab government announced the closure of all government and private primary schools for one week, effective Monday.

Lahore's air quality index surges past 1,000-mark once again on Wednesday with the city topping the global charts for highest air pollution levels once again.The city's AQI, as per Swiss

The Pakistani government on Sunday announced that all primary schools in northeastern Lahore, the country's second-largest city, will remain closed for a week as air quality worsened to a record level due to thick smog.

Air quality in the city of 14 million people has breached levels considered "dangerous," prompting the government to close schools and urge citizens to stay indoors.

The air quality index exceeded 1,000 on Nov 2, well above the level of 300 considered “dangerous”. Read more at straitstimes.com.