Motorways closed as fog engulfs large swathes of Punjab, KP, Sindh

Large swathes of Punjab, KP and Sindh were again blanketed by dense fog on Thursday, prompting the authorities to close different sections of the motorway after visibility dropped to zero at some places, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

M-1 was closed from Peshawar to Ghazi Hazro Interchange.

Similarly, M-2, from Thokar Niaz Beg to Balkassar; M-3, from Faizpur to Darkhana; M-4, from Pindi Bhattian to Sher Shah; M-5, from Sukkur to Multan and M-14, from Kharappa to Isa Khel were also closed.

Dense fog was also reported from Lahore, Manga Mandi, Pattoki, Okara, Sahiwal, Kassowal, Iqbal Nagar, Mian Channu, Khanewal, Multan, Basti Malook, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Ahmadpur East, Tarinda Muhammad Panah, Iqbal Nagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Sadiqabad on the national highway.

Different parts of Sindh are also presently in the grip of dense fog and extremely cold winds.

Fog and extreme cold affected daily routine of the people in Ubauro and its outskirts on Thursday.

At some places, visibility dropped to zero.

Fog also led to the suspension of power supply to different localities of the city.

Spokesman for the Motorway Police Syed Imran Ahmad said that the purpose of closing motorways was to protect the lives and properties of the people.

Urging people to avoid travelling unnecessarily, the spokesman said that travelling during the daytime was the best option if it was really necessary. “The time between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM is most suitable for travelling,” he added.

He also asked motorists to drive in their lanes, adding that the violation of lanes in fog could result in accidents.

He also asked road users to drive at a slow speed, stay at a distance from other vehicles, and turn the fog lights of their vehicles on while driving. 

“In case of an emergency, dial helpline number 130.”

Temperatures dip in Islamabad, outskirts

Meanwhile, nighttime temperatures in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and other areas in the country’s center and north have dropped considerably.

In Islamabad, the minimum temperature on Thursday morning was recorded at 3 degrees Celsius.

The weather department said that bitterly cold breeze would blow in the city at the speed of seven kilometers per hour throughout the day.

The maximum temperature was expected to reach 17 degrees Celsius later in the day, it said, and added in the morning, the level of moisture in the air stood at over 40 per cent.

The department forecast extremely cold and dry weather for the federal capital during the next 24 hours.

Reporters: Hashir Ahsan Warraich, Sherbaz Baloch