Dense fog has descended upon Lahore and surrounding areas, severely disrupting air and road travel.
Visibility at Allama Iqbal International Airport dropped significantly, leading to an 8-hour suspension of flight operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Aviation Disruptions
The persistent blanket of fog has forced airline authorities to alter schedules for both domestic and international travel:
At least five flights scheduled to land in Lahore were diverted to Islamabad International Airport due to unsafe landing conditions.
Key international and domestic flights, including those to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Karachi, have been canceled.
Over 10 other flights bound for destinations such as Bangkok, Doha, Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE have been unable to depart.
Motorway Closures and Traffic Alerts
The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) have closed several key routes to prevent accidents in near-zero visibility:
M-2 Motorway: Closed from Balkasar to Kot Momin (Lahore-bound).
M-3 Motorway: Closed from Faizpur to Rajana due to thick fog.
M-11 Motorway: The Lahore-Sialkot Motorway is also facing closures and restricted access.
Travel Advisory
City traffic has slowed to a crawl in various sectors of Lahore. Motorway Police have strongly advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during late night and early morning hours.
Use fog lights and maintain a significant distance between vehicles.
Check flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
The weather department predicts that these foggy conditions may persist for the next 24 to 48 hours across the plains of Punjab.
