Severe morning fog affects plains as cold weather spreads across Pakistan

Most parts of Pakistan are expected to stay cold and dry on Saturday, with mornings and nights turning noticeably cooler, the Met Office said. Mountain regions will see harsher early-day and late-night chills, while fog and smog may affect visibility in the plains during the same hours.

Lahore’s temperature dropped to 8°C in the early morning and later rose to 10°C. The city’s highest expected temperature for the day is 22°C, with light winds blowing at 3km/h. Smog remains a concern as Lahore ranks fifth on the global pollution list, with the city’s overall Air Quality Index recorded at 199. Severe pollution was reported near Civil Secretariat (810 AQI), followed by Saddar Cantt (730 AQI) and Burki (346 AQI).

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar will remain cold and dry today, with temperatures reportedly expected to fall to 5°C. Humidity in the city stands at 45 percent. The plains and upper districts of the province may see the cold grow stronger in the coming days. Fog is also likely to cover areas including Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan and DI Khan in the morning and evening.

Motorway travel has been badly disrupted by dense fog as authorities closed the M1 from Rashakai to Burhan due to extremely low visibility. Officials said the step was taken to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of travellers and their belongings.

On Saturday, cities in Punjab’s plains including Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Multan, Khanewal, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur and surrounding areas may remain under fog or smog in the early morning. Murree, Galyat, Islamabad and nearby parts of northern and hilly Punjab will likely remain cold and dry.

Gilgit-Baltistan will also stay cold and dry, with particularly low temperatures expected in the early morning and at night. Across affected regions, the Met Office has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel during dense fog and smog hours over the next few days.