Several parts of the country were in the grip of severe fog on Saturday, disrupting traffic in Punjab and KP cities on key Motorway sections due to poor visibility.

Motorway M-1 has been closed from Rashakai to Peshawar, M-2 from Thokar Niaz Baig to Hiran Minar, M-3 from Faizpur to Rajana interchange, and M-5 from Multan to Zahir Pir, as well as from Rohri to Rahim Yar Khan.

The Lahore-Sialkot Motorway has also been closed from the Main Toll Plaza to Sambrial.

The Motorway Police have advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel until conditions improve.

Meanwhile, air quality in several cities has deteriorated sharply.

Faisalabad has emerged as the most polluted city in the country, recording an air particulate matter level of 574.

According to an environmental website, Lahore ranks second among the world’s most polluted major cities, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 310.

Gujranwala recorded an AQI of 322, while data from the Punjab Environment Department showed AQI levels of 380 in Hafizabad and 372 in Muzaffargarh.

Officials said polluted air from Indian Punjab, carried by easterly winds, has pushed Lahore’s AQI to hazardous levels, reaching around 289.

To counter the smog effects, anti-smog squads have been mobilised across Lahore, and strict inspections of industrial units have begun.

A spokesperson for the Environment Protection Department said that, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a comprehensive action plan to curb smog is being implemented.

Smog guns are operating continuously at spots with high AQI levels, while regular water sprinkling is underway in various parts of the city.

The Local Government Department, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) and WASA have intensified joint efforts to clean and wash roads, launching a large-scale road-washing campaign in and around the city.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that reducing dust in urban areas would help improve air quality and that the government was taking strict measures to control smog.

She urged children, the elderly and patients to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, advised citizens to wear masks, and avoid outdoor exercise.

Authorities have also appealed to the public to follow precautionary guidelines and cooperate with government departments as efforts to combat smog continue.