Dangerous smog in Pakistan has led to the hospitalization of hundreds of people and the closure of schools.

Authorities in much of eastern Pakistan closed all parks and museums on Friday due to record smog levels, which also forced government offices to close and left tens of thousands of people suffering from illnesses respiratory.

Restrictions in place

New restrictions, set to last ten days, came into force in 18 districts of Punjab province, including the capital, Lahore, where thick smog reduced visibility to around 328 feet, casting a twilight haze over the city .

The closures affect all public parks, zoos, museums, historic sites and playgrounds. Schools and government offices were already closed until November 17.

A court in Lahore on Friday ordered the government to close all markets by 8 p.m. local time. Authorities also banned barbecues without filters and required wedding halls to close before 10 p.m.

Sajid Bashir, a spokesperson for the Punjab Environmental Protection Department, said the new restrictions are aimed at keeping people indoors to better protect them from record levels of pollution.

“Instead of staying at home, parents and children were visiting these places,” Bashir said, according to the Associated Press (AP). “We want people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.

Current smog

Since last month, toxic smog has engulfed Lahore – a city of 14 million people – and other parts of Punjab, and health authorities have reported that more than 30,000 people have sought treatment for problems respiratory tract in affected districts.

Lahore was ranked Friday as the world’s most polluted city with an air quality index above 600, well above the dangerous threshold of 300, according to Bashir. On Wednesday, the city recorded an unprecedented AQI of over 1,100.

The dangers of smog

Doctors advise people in smog-affected areas to wear masks to protect their lungs.

“Breathing the air of Lahore without wearing a mask is equivalent to smoking dozens of cigarettes a day,” said Dr. Hafeezur Rehman, a doctor practicing in the city, according to the AP.

Multan, one of the worst-hit districts, has seen a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses. Authorities assured that smog-affected areas were fully stocked with medical supplies. School closures in smog-hit districts will disrupt the education of more than 20 million students, according to private and public school associations.

Khuram Gondal, Pakistan director of Save the Children, called on the government to implement long-term solutions to the pollution crisis, stressing the need to avoid future school disruptions for children.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.