Toxic smog has shrouded Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore for days as surging pollution spurs authorities to curb activities and set up a panel to oversee preventive efforts.

Record-high air pollution in Pakistan's cultural capital of Lahore is sending more people to hospitals and private clinics, doctors said Wednesday as authorities warned a complete lockdown could be imminent if residents fail to don face masks and follow other guidance related to smog.

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.

The smog crisis in Lahore, similar to the situation in India's capital Delhi, tends to worsen during cooler months due to temperature inversion trapping pollution closer to the ground. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here.

Primary schools in Lahore will remain closed for a week because of the pollution, according to a government notification.

Lahore, Pakistan, experienced hazardous levels of air pollution for two consecutive days, ranking as the second most polluted city globally. The Punja

Lahore, Pakistan, experienced record-breaking air pollution on November 2, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1,900, six times higher than the World Health Organization's limit. The Pakistani government attributed the surge to winds carrying pollution from India and seasonal crop residue burning.

Pakistan blames India for worsening smog in Lahore, urging serious action as air quality index hits record high.