F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Continental air prevailing over most parts of the country caused a further drop in the mercury while the plain areas were enveloped by dense fog disrupting air and road travel in Pakistan on Wednesday morning.
The Pakistan Meteorological Office said dense fog is likely in the plain areas of Punjab while very cold weather is likely to prevail in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and north Balochistan, and cold and dry weather in other parts of the country.
In Karachi, the cold wave will stay for the next 24 hours while the weather will remain cold and dry, the Karachi Met Office officials said.
While in Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi the weather will also remain dry and cold. The minimum temperature in Islamabad is expected to remain 2 degrees Celsius.
Islamabad Expressway, Murree Road, Ninth Avenue, Taxila-Rawat-Wah GT Road were also engulfed with dense fog while air schedule at Islamabad International Airport has also been disrupted. In Lahore, due to dense fog, Motorway Police and National Highway closed M-2 and M-3 motorways for all kinds of traffic.
However, in the latest update motorways leading to different cities from Lahore have been reopened after improved visibility. The motorway was closed last night due to heavy fog.
The local TV channel reported, Lahore to Islamabad, Lahore to Abdul Hakim Motorway opened for citizens after the delay of 11 hours and citizens can now travel from Lahore to Islamabad and Abdul Hakim on the motorway.
Dense fog engulfed parts of Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Khushab, Noorpur Thal, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujarat, Toba Tek Singh, Joharabad, Jhang, Okara, Multan, and Bahawalpur while dense foggy conditions are expected in Bahawalnagar, Mianwali, DG Khan, Khanewal, Sahiwal and Rahim Yar Khan.
The weather in other districts of Punjab will remain cold and dry and in most parts of Sindh. Wednesday’s Lowest Minimum Temperature (°C): Skardu -16°C, Astore -14°C, Gupis -12 °C, Kalat -11°C, Hunza -09 °C, Bagrote -08°C, Gilgit, Quetta, Kalam, Parachinar -07°C, Dalbandin -05°C, Zhob and Rawalakot -04°C. In the last 24 hours, cold and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country, while very cold in north Balochistan and upper areas. Dense fog prevailed over plain areas of Punjab.
The Met office predicted dense fog/frost is likely in plain areas of Punjab and few places in Potohar region on Thursday (tomorrow) and very cold weather is likely to prevail in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and north Balochistan, while cold and dry weather in other parts of the country.
