Dense fog disrupts road, rail and air traffic in Punjab

Motorway police urges citizens to avoid unnecessary traveling or use alternate routes

LAHORE: Various cities of Punjab remained under dense blanket of fog on Wednesday night. The thick layer of fog paralysed routine life and disrupted normal road, rail and air traffic to and from various cities of the provincial capital.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast, moderate fog was being observed on Lahore-Islamabad M2 and Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad M3 Motorways, especially between Lahore and Pindi Bhattian (M2-3) and Pindi Bhattian and Faisalabad (M3-1). Moderate/shallow fog was being observed on M2 Motorway from Pindi Bhattian and Salt Range, while mist was being witnessed on M2 Motorway between Salt Range and Islamabad. PMD forecast showed mist on Peshawar-Islamabad M1 Motorway, especially in the areas between Peshawar and Swabi, Swabi and Islamabad.



PMD report showed dense/moderate fog on the National Highway (N-5) in areas like Kharian to Gujranwala, Gujranwala to Lahore, Lahore to Okara and Okara to Mianchannu. It showed moderate/shallow fog on the N5 Highway in various sections including Islamabad to Kharian, Mianchannu to Multan, Multan to Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur to Rahim Yar Khan and Rahim Yar Khan to Sukkur.

According to a motorway spokesman, sections from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian and Faisalabad to Gojra have been closed owing to low visibility. The motorway police have asked the citizens to avoid unnecessary traveling or use alternative routes for travelling.

They have also urged drivers to take all precautions when driving in the fog. Moreover, they have asked the drivers to drive slow and switch on the fog lights to avoid fatal accidents due to poor visibility.



Flight operations from various airports including Allama Iqbal International Airport were badly affected owing to poor visibility. Dozens of flights have been cancelled or rescheduled. Dense fog has also affected Pakistan Railway’s schedule as most trains were delayed on Wednesday owing to extreme fog.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2018.