Severe fog blanketed Lahore and surrounding areas, forcing authorities to suspend flight operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport for nearly eight hours. Due to extremely low visibility, at least four inbound flights were diverted to Islamabad, while several domestic and international departures were either delayed or cancelled.
Flights from Lahore to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, and Karachi were cancelled, while both inbound and outbound international schedules were badly affected. Airport sources confirmed that persistent fog reduced visibility to unsafe levels, making aircraft operations impossible during the affected hours.
The fog also disrupted traffic flow in multiple areas of Lahore, further compounding travel difficulties for commuters.
International Flights Face Long Delays
According to reports, dense fog caused major delays to international flights at Lahore airport. A private airline’s flight PA-474 to Riyadh was delayed by nearly 10 hours, while SV-739 bound for Jeddah and PA-410 to Dubai faced delays of up to 11 hours each. Passengers remained stranded as authorities awaited improvement in weather conditions.
Also Read: Flights delayed at Lahore & Sialkot airports amid dense fog
Sialkot Airport Operations Partially Affected
Dense fog also enveloped Sialkot International Airport, disrupting flight schedules. The airport spokesperson stated that minimum visibility of 500 metres is required for safe flight operations, but visibility dropped to as low as 100 metres, forcing partial suspension of flights.
Officials said flight operations would resume fully once visibility improves and weather conditions stabilize.
Motorways Closed as Fog Grips Punjab
The dense fog extended across the plains of Punjab, severely disrupting motorway traffic. According to the Motorway Police spokesperson:
- M-2 motorway from Lahore to Kot Momin was closed
- M-3 motorway from Faizpur to Rajana/Jaranwala faced restrictions
- M-4 motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Abdul Hakim was restricted for heavy traffic
- M-11 motorway from Lahore to Sialkot was completely closed for all traffic
Motorway Police advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours, when fog intensity is highest.
Safety Advisory Issued by Motorway Police
Authorities emphasized that the safest travel time during fog is between 10:00am and 6:00pm. Motorists were urged to use GT Road as an alternative route and strictly follow safety guidelines, including reduced speed, use of fog lights, and maintaining safe distance.
Citizens were also advised to stay updated through official advisories and contact the NHMP helpline 130 for real-time traffic updates and emergency assistance.
Officials warned that fog conditions may worsen suddenly during winter, and further restrictions could be imposed if visibility deteriorates again.
