‘Zero Visibility’ Crisis: Smog and Fog Set to Cripple Travel, PMD Issues Warning

Islamabad – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a critical advisory, forecasting a significant rise in dense fog and pervasive smog across the country’s plains. Driven by an unrelenting dry spell, the adverse conditions are expected to trigger widespread travel disruptions, particularly affecting early-morning operations.

The PMD warns of a drop in visibility, which could escalate the risk to commuters and intercity transit. The most severely affected zone encompasses the vast plains of central and southern Punjab, including major urban and industrial hubs such as Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.

Similar hazardous atmospheric conditions are projected for regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), specifically Peshawar, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan, as well as key areas of Upper Sindh, including Sukkur and Rohri.

The resulting low-visibility scenario is expected to strain national road networks critically and may necessitate operational adjustments, delays, or diversion of air and rail traffic. Authorities are urging the public and transport operators to heed the warning, advising utmost vigilance and preemptive safety measures during the peak early morning hours.