Heavy fog engulfs plains of Punjab, limits visibility

LAHORE: Intense foggy conditions on Friday morning restricted visibility limit in most parts of Punjab, made travel on highways difficult for commuters, ARY News reported.

Intense fog engulfed most of the plains of Punjab in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur divisions with the visibility limit restricted causing travel on the National Highway and the motorways difficult.

The visibility limit from Faisalabad to Gojra said to be restricted between 20 to 200 meters, while from Thokar Niaz Baig in Lahore to Kot Momin between 20 to 500 meters.

The fog has also covered Sheikhupura, Kasur, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar and Shorkot. The misty conditions disturbed the routine life in Manga Mandi, Patoki, Okara, Sahiwal and Cheechawatani, according to reports.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), has predicted a wet spell in various parts of the country from December 09 to 13. The met office has forecast rainfall and snowfall at various places. A new weather system will enter in western parts of Pakistan on December 09, the PMD said.

As winter descends, the areas of northern parts of Punjab encircled by a thick layer of fog affecting the daily life and vehicular traffic.

Motorways blocked and flights delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility. The thick hazy layer understood to be winter’s fog is a noxious smog carrying serious health hazards, experts say.

Smog is basically derived from the merging of two words; smoke and fog which means that smog is a mixture of smoke and fog, created by increasing vehicular and industrial emissions.

Classic smog results from large amounts of coal burning in an area and is caused by a mixture of smoke and sulfur dioxide.