Punjab Govtt Shifts 50% of Employees to Online Work from Home

The Punjab government has ordered that 50% of employees in its offices shift to online work. This directive, issued by Dr. Imran Hamid, Punjab’s Director General of Environment, applies to all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions in the region.

Under the new guidelines, half of the government staff will continue to work on-site, while the remaining employees will work from home. Furthermore, all inter-departmental meetings are to be conducted online, and employees commuting to work must carpool to help reduce vehicle emissions contributing to the smog.

The directive has been communicated to all secretaries and heads of departments, emphasizing immediate implementation. The aim is to minimize road traffic and decrease the release of harmful pollutants from transportation.

Measures for Private Offices

In addition to the government workforce, a separate notification has been issued for private office staff in four divisions of Punjab: Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Multan. The new rule mandates that 50% of employees in private offices, franchises, and NGOs in these divisions also work from home from November 13 to December 31. This decision is in response to the increasing number of diseases related to smog.

Closing Schools and Colleges

The Punjab government has also announced the closure of schools and colleges in five additional divisions due to dangerously high air pollution levels. The divisions affected include Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal. All educational institutions, from nursery to grade 12, including academies and tuition centers, will remain closed from November 13 to 17. This decision follows similar closures already in place in Lahore and surrounding areas.

Air Quality Warnings and Health Precautions

Islamabad has recorded an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268, surpassing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended air quality guidelines by 38.7%. Authorities have advised individuals, especially those with respiratory conditions, to wear masks as a preventive measure against the hazardous air quality.

The Environment Department has ordered immediate implementation of these measures to address the severe smog impacting Lahore and other cities in Punjab. According to the Met Department, dry weather in Islamabad and its surrounding areas is expected to persist, with smog and fog likely to cover the city.

In Punjab, smog and fog are anticipated during mornings and evenings in several cities, including Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sialkot, Hafizabad, and Toba Tek Singh. Similar conditions are expected in Jhang, Narowal, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mangla, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad.