Dense fog causes shut down of several motorways in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Dense fog has engulfed many parts of Pakistan, forcing the closure of several motorways and affecting the visibility of drivers and travelers.

The National Highway & Motorway Police (NHMP) announced on Sunday that they have closed the M3 motorway from Faizpur to Peshawar, the Lahore-Sialkot motorway, the M4 motorway from Shorkot to Faisalabad and the M5 motorway from Peshawar to Zahir Pir due to the foggy conditions.

The NHMP spokesperson said that the decision was taken to ensure public safety and secure travel, as the fog reduced the visibility to less than 100 meters in some areas. He added that the motorways will remain closed until the fog clears up, which is expected by Monday.

Dense fog: motorway closed at several locations again

The spokesperson also advised the road users to avoid unnecessary travel during the foggy hours and to follow the traffic rules and regulations. He urged the drivers to use fog lights, maintain a safe distance and speed limit, and to contact the NHMP helpline 130 in case of any emergency.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has stated that the dense fog is caused by the stable weather conditions, cold and dry weather, and high humidity levels in the plain areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and upper Sindh. The PMD has also warned of frost in the upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pothohar region including Islamabad and Kashmir.

The PMD has forecasted that the foggy conditions will continue for the next few days, and advised the public to take precautionary measures and to ignore fake news and rumors on social media regarding snowfall in the plains of Punjab.