ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has changed school timings in Islamabad for winter in order to prevent children and staff from cold weather.
According to the notification issued by the Federal Directorate of Education, schools will operate from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, while regular classes on Fridays will run from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Subsequently, evening shift schools will operate from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
On the other hand, in October, to address the worsening smog situation in Lahore, the Punjab Environment Protection Department announced revised school timings across the province.
The new timings, effective from October 28, will remain in place until January 31. Decision comes as Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 150, posing serious health risks to children and the elderly.
To minimize exposure, school assemblies will be held in classrooms, and all outdoor activities have been banned.
Furthermore, fireworks have been prohibited until January 31, 2025. The public has been advised to limit outdoor exposure, wear masks when stepping outside, and keep homes’ windows and doors closed to prevent smog from entering.
It should be noted that authorities have reimposed Section 144 in Islamabad, prohibiting gatherings of five or more people for the next two months, according to an official notification released, ahead of a planned protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the federal capital.
The order, issued by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, restricts all types of gatherings in the capital, including religious, political, and other public meetings, as part of measures aimed at maintaining public order.
This move comes days after the previous imposition of Section 144 expired on November 17. Section 144 was previously imposed in Islamabad to curb air pollution during the ongoing smog crisis in the capital city.
