Dense fog paralyses air, road travel in Lahore, parts of Punjab

Dense fog continued to paralyse air and road travel across Lahore and several parts of Punjab, forcing the suspension of flight operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport for more than eight hours besides the diversion of at least five flights to Islamabad.

Airport authorities said poor visibility led to the cancellation of flights from Lahore to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah and Karachi, while at least 10 international and domestic flights bound for Bangkok, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates were unable to depart. The fog severely disrupted both inbound and outbound schedules, leaving passengers stranded.

The impact of dense fog was also felt on major highways and urban traffic, with several sections of the motorway network closed as visibility dropped to dangerous levels.

According to a motorway police spokesperson, the M-2 motorway from Lahore to Kot Momin was shut, while traffic on the M-11 Lahore–Sialkot motorway was suspended due to persistent fog. The M-3 motorway from Faizpur to Samundri was also closed, with heavy vehicles barred from travelling between Faizpur and Darkhana.

In addition, all traffic on the M-4 motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad was halted, while heavy transport was stopped from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakim. Officials said the closures were imposed as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents amid near-zero visibility in some areas.

Motorway Police Central Region spokesperson Syed Imran Ahmed said the primary objective of the closures was to ensure the safety of motorists and passengers during hazardous fog conditions. He warned that speeding and lane violations in foggy weather could result in serious mishaps and urged road users to strictly follow lane discipline.

Motorists were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, prefer daytime journeys and observe precautionary measures, including the use of fog lights, maintaining safe speeds and keeping a safe distance from other vehicles. The motorway police also noted that the safest travel window during foggy conditions is generally between 10am and 6pm.

According to monitoring reports, shallow to dense fog affected several motorway sections during late-night and early-morning hours, with visibility in some areas dropping to as low as 10 metres. Particularly severe conditions were reported between Jinnah Bus Terminal and Military Chowk, as well as from Kharian Cantonment to Chak Aka.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said a westerly weather system was affecting western and upper parts of the country and was expected to strengthen, potentially persisting until Thursday. Moderate to dense fog is likely to continue in patches across northeastern and south Punjab during night and early-morning hours.

The Met Office forecast cloudy weather for upper and western regions, with isolated rain, wind and thunderstorms — and snowfall over hilly areas — in parts of Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Cold and partly cloudy conditions are expected elsewhere. Authorities urged the public to remain cautious and stay updated on weather and traffic advisories.