On Saturday, Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced dense fog, causing disruptions in early morning domestic and international flights, rail services, and vehicular movement on city roads and motorways. Initially, visibility in various areas of the twin cities was limited to 50 meters early in the morning but gradually improved later in the day.
What Climatological says about this fog?
Notably, the fog had already enveloped the Islamabad International Airport at 11 pm on Friday night. An official from the Climatological Department mentioned that the current cold wave, coupled with fog, would affect the country, including the Potohar region, on Sunday. Talking to media, the official stated that the intensity of the cold wave and fog would gradually decrease by the end of the next week.
The Department reported disruptions in flight and train schedules, with the Met Office indicating no chances of rain until Jan 28. The weather across the country is expected to remain cold and dry, with foggy conditions likely to persist in plain areas of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The official also mentioned a potential for rain in the twin cities after Jan 28, with the minimum temperature recorded at 2 degrees Celsius in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
How fog affects daily life:
The recent cold wave and foggy conditions have made living difficult in the twin cities, exacerbating challenges due to power outages and low gas pressure. Consequently, there has been a notable increase in complaints of cold-related ailments, especially among the elderly and children, with more than 100 patients daily at Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Doctors advise the public to stay warm, cover their heads and ears, and increase liquid intake, especially soups, to minimize the effects of dry cold.
Traders in Rawalpindi’s Saddar area have been expressing concerns about low business due to a decrease in the number of customers in recent days. A shopkeeper at Saddar, mentioned the closure of shops after Maghreb prayers due to reduced evening market visits. The business community, already facing a financial crunch, is further distressed by adverse weather conditions.
Motorway closures and flight disruptions:
The thick blanket of early-morning fog affected routine activities and transportation, including roads, airports, and railways. Trains arriving late in Rawalpindi from Karachi, Quetta, and Lahore due to fog, along with disruptions in flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines, caused inconvenience to travelers. PIA announced a change in flight schedule for Saturday due to heavy fog, and several flights arriving in Islamabad were diverted to Lahore. Skardu, Dubai, and Karachi flights were canceled, while Riyadh to Lahore flight was diverted to Karachi. The PIA management is taking steps to minimize passenger inconvenience during fog. Both domestic and international flights of private airlines experienced delays or cancellations due to bad weather conditions in Islamabad. However, flight operations at Islamabad International Airport resumed their regular schedule in the evening after an improvement in weather conditions. On Saturday morning, the motorway from Kot Momin to Islamabad (M-2) and Peshawar to Islamabad (M-1) were temporarily closed by the National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP), reopening at 11 am. Commuters are advised to stay informed about weather conditions and plan their travel accordingly, with recommendations to contact the NHMP helpline at 130 or check official social media platforms before starting their journey. In addition to dense fog, growing air pollution is contributing to hazardous smog, posing a dual threat by reducing visibility and posing a significant threat to people’s health.
Pakistan is among top ten most polluted countries in the world:
Pakistan’s air pollution level is nearly ten times higher than levels considered dangerous by the WHO. Ranking as the world’s third most polluted country, Pakistan faces significant hurdles in combating air pollution.
Last wek the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, led by Chairperson Senator Ms. Seemee Ezdi, addressed the urban fog challenges in Pakistan
