Low visibility: Heavy fog disrupts air traffic

Dozens of flights delayed or diverted elsewhere

KARACHI: Dense fog descended on Karachi on Saturday due to which air traffic was disrupted for a few hours.

The Pakistan Meteorological (Met) regional director, Abdul Rashid, said that thick fog descended on Karachi from 2am to 9am on Saturday.

"Visibility was reduced to 500 metres only," remarked a met department duty officer stationed at the airport. However, the visibility improved from 11am onwards, added Rashid.

As a result dozens of flights were delayed and cancelled due to poor visibility at Jinnah International Airport, while a string of arrivals were diverted.

According to the spokesperson of Pakistan International Airlines, PK-744, which was coming from Madina to Karachi, was diverted to Muscat, PK-788, which was coming from London, was diverted to Lahore, and PK-350, from Karachi to Peshawar, was delayed for almost four hours.

Moreover, PK-214, arriving from Dubai, was delayed for five hours, PK-517 for Panjgur was delayed by three hours, Manchester-bound PK-711 was delayed for two hours, Lahore-bound PK-302 and PK-314 were delayed for three hours and four hours respectively, while PK-303, from Lahore to Karachi was delayed for three hours.  On the other hand, two flights, PK-525 and 526, for Gwadar were cancelled. The spokesperson also advised passengers to inquire before coming to the airport.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2017.