Severe fog disrupted life across several parts of Pakistan on Saturday, causing major traffic problems in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Visibility on key sections of the motorway network dropped sharply, forcing authorities to close multiple stretches.
Motorway M-1 from Rashakai to Peshawar, M-2 from Thokar Niaz Baig to Hiran Minar, M-3 from Faizpur to Rajana Interchange, and M-5 from Multan to Zahir Pir as well as Rohri to Rahim Yar Khan were all shut down.
The Lahore-Sialkot Motorway was also closed from the Main Toll Plaza to Sambrial. The Motorway Police urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel until conditions improve.
At the same time, air pollution reached alarming levels in several cities. Faisalabad emerged as the country’s most polluted city, with particulate matter levels hitting 574.
Lahore ranked second among the world’s most polluted major cities, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 310, while Gujranwala’s AQI reached 322. Hafizabad and Muzaffargarh reported AQIs of 380 and 372, respectively.
Officials said easterly winds had carried polluted air from Indian Punjab into Lahore, pushing the city’s AQI to hazardous levels around 289.
To combat the smog, anti-smog squads have been deployed across Lahore, and inspections of industrial units have been intensified.
A spokesperson for the Environment Protection Department said that, following instructions from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a comprehensive action plan is being implemented to curb smog and improve air quality.
Smog guns are operating continuously at spots with high AQI levels, while regular water sprinkling is underway in various parts of the city.
The Local Government Department, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) and WASA have intensified joint efforts to clean and wash roads, launching a large-scale road-washing campaign in and around the city.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that reducing dust in urban areas would help improve air quality and that the government was taking strict measures to control smog.
She urged children, the elderly and patients to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, advised citizens to wear masks, and avoid outdoor exercise.
Authorities have also appealed to the public to follow precautionary guidelines and cooperate with government departments as efforts to combat smog continue.
