KARACHI: At least seven flights of the Pakistan Int­er­national Airlines (PIA) were cancelled and five others re-routed owing to the poor weather conditions — dense fog and smog — in the upper Sindh and lower Punjab region on Saturday.

However, according to the Associated Press, experts are hopeful that winter rains starting next week will bring relief from weeks-long smog persisting in much of the country.

The cancelled flights were Lahore-Islamabad (PK-650), Lahore-Bah­awalpur-Lahore (PK-651 and PK-652), Karachi-Mul­tan (PK-330), Karachi-Fai­salabad-Karachi (PK-342 and PK-343) and Islamabad-Karachi (PK-373).

The re-routed flights were PK-296 which was operated from Abu Dhabi to Karachi instead of Abu Dhabi to Rahim Yar Khan-Lahore; PK-715 operated Karachi-Madina instead of Multan-Madina; PK-763 operated Karachi-Jeddah instead of Faisalabad-Jed­dah; PK-295 flew dire­ctly from Lahore to Abu Dhabi instead of Rahim Yar Khan; and PK-725 flew from Isl­amabad to Riyadh instead of Lahore-Riyadh.

A PIA statement said the current weather conditions were expected to continue for the next few days and were beyond the control of the airline which had to adjust its schedule as flights could not be operated with poor visibility keeping safety requirements in view.

The pollution has caused respiratory problems and ir­­­­­­r­­i­ta­­ted eyes, according to AP.

Mohammad Ajmal Shad, a government meteorologist in Lahore, said that a three-day spell of rain would likely start on Monday and break the smog that has been caused by dust, the burning of crops, industry and brick kilns.

Smog has also caused poor visibility, leading to highway accidents.

Police spokesman Mo­ha­mmad Imran said movement on the motorways remained suspended in the morning due to ‘zero’ visibility.

He said that in order to avoid accidents traffic moved in escorted convoys during the day.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2017