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LAHORE, Pakistan — Authorities in a large swath of eastern Pakistan closed all public parks, zoos and museums, historic sites and playgrounds for ten days, as a record wave of smog choked 18 districts of Punjab province, making tens of thousands sick.

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The residents of Lahore led their lives in a twilight darkness that lingered over the city for hours, reducing visibility to around 100 meters.

Toxic smog has enveloped the city of 14 million and other parts of Punjab since last month. It forced the government to close schools and other public places until November 17 and keep government employees at home in 18 districts of Punjab, including Lahore, the capital.

“These measures to prohibit the entry of people into such places are part of the Punjab government’s efforts to protect the health of the people,” said Sajid Bashir, spokesperson for the Punjab Environmental Protection Department. Punjab.

“We want people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel,” he said.

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A court in Lahore on Friday also ordered the government to close all markets after 8 p.m. Authorities have already banned unfiltered grilling and ordered wedding halls to close before 10 p.m.

Bashir said Friday that Lahore was the most polluted city in the world, with an air quality index above 600. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous to health.

Schools were closed earlier in smog-hit districts to protect children’s health. This will affect the education of more than 20 million students, according to associations representing private and public schools.

Bashir said he hoped the smog would begin to ease next week.

However, air pollution has already sickened tens of thousands of people in Lahore alone.

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The province recorded a record air quality index of more than 1,100 on Wednesday. On that day, Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior minister in Punjab province, on Wednesday urged residents to wear masks and voluntarily avoid unnecessary travel, and declared that “otherwise, the government will be forced into a complete lockdown”.

According to international charity Save the Children, millions of children will miss classes due to school closures until November 17. Khuram Gondal, country director of the charity Save the Children, urged authorities to urgently tackle air pollution, including through long-term solutions. , to create a better future for children.

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