RAWALPINDI: Heavy fog disrupted flights with low visibility, leading to delays, diversion, and cancellation of flights at Islamabad and Lahore airports on Wednesday, causing inconvenience to travellers.

According to aviation experts, the visibility in Islamabad was 3.49 kilometres with a clear sky on Wednesday at 8 pm, while the foggy weather persisted at 10 pm as the visibility decreased to 0.05 kilometres with scattered clouds.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that due to heavy fog in Lahore, Air Sial flight SIF 743 from Dammam to Lahore was diverted to Karachi, while Pakistan International Airlines PIA flight PK186 from Sharjah to Lahore was also diverted to Karachi due to fog. The CAA said that Gulf Air flight 784 Bahrain to Peshawar was delayed; Qatar Airways flight QR 600 Doha to Peshawar; and Air Arabia flight G9554 Sharjah to Peshawar was also delayed.

The CAA said that Emirates flight EK-636 from Dubai to Peshawar was delayed, and Air Arabia flight G9864 from Ras Al Khaimah to Peshawar was delayed.

Fly Jinnah flight 9865 Karachi to Peshawar, Gulf Air flight GF 785 Peshawar to Bahrain, Qatar Airways flight QR 601 from Peshawar to Doha were delayed due to bad weather conditions.Air Arabia flight G9555 from Peshawar to Sharjah, Emirates EK-637 Peshawar to Dubai, Air Arabia flight G9865 from Peshawar to Ras Al Khaimah, and Fly Jinnah flight 9P866 from Peshawar to Karachi were delayed due to weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Motorway M-1, Peshawar to Burhan, and the Swat Expressway from Colonel Sher Khan to Ismaila were closed for all traffic due to heavy fog.

The motorway spokesman said that the purpose of closing the motorway was to prevent accidents and protect the lives and property of the users of the motorway.

Citizens are requested to avoid unnecessary travel during foggy hours and to complete their journey in daylight and reach their destination before the onset of fog.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024