BEIJING, June 24 -- The smog shrouding Beijing and its neighboring regions on Tuesday might continue until Sunday, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The north of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will experience "fine or light air pollution" for the next four days, while central and southern parts will see "light to heavy pollution," the ministry forecast Wednesday, citing PM2.5 as the chief pollutant.

While pollution in the central and southern parts will improve to "light to moderate level" in general by June 28, "some regions" will continue to suffer from heavy pollution, it said.

Local governments have been told to closely monitor air quality and take steps including traffic measures to reduce pollution "as much as possible."