Dense fog blanketed several cities in Punjab and Sindh from Wednesday night into Thursday, disrupting daily life and causing significant traffic disruptions.
A Motorway Police spokesperson reported that various motorway sections, including M5 from Rahim Yar Khan to Rohri and M11 from Lahore to Sialkot, were closed due to poor visibility. Drivers were advised to use the Grand Trunk (GT) Road as an alternative, drive cautiously with fog lights, and maintain low speeds. Authorities also recommended avoiding unnecessary travel and staying indoors.
The fog also impacted traffic on national highways, further complicating mobility.
Meanwhile, the ongoing cold wave intensified, with snowfall and rain reported in northern regions and parts of Balochistan over the past 24 hours. Areas such as Quetta, Chaman, Ziarat, Pishin, and Qilla Abdullah experienced intermittent snowfall and rain, adding to the cold.
Northern regions, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saw temperatures drop below freezing. Leh recorded -12°C, Skardu -10°C, Gupis -9°C, and Astore -7°C. Kalam, Hunza, Gilgit, and Bagroot reported temperatures of -5°C, while Parachinar, Ziarat, and Kalat experienced -4°C.
The Met Office forecasted cold and dry weather for most areas on Thursday, with very cold conditions in hilly regions. Moderate to dense fog patches are expected during morning and night in Punjab, upper Sindh, and the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Light rain or snow may occur in isolated areas of Kashmir and nearby hilly regions.
