Dense fog brought Rawalpindi and Islamabad to a standstill on Sunday as early morning flights, trains, and road transportation faced disruptions due to low visibility of a mere 50 metres in some areas.
The adverse weather conditions are expected to persist, affecting daily life. The twin cities experienced a crippling fog on Sunday, severely impacting routine activities.
Early morning flights faced delays and disruptions, along with rail services and vehicular movement on city roads and motorways.
The visibility dropped to 50 metres in various areas during the early morning hours, gradually improving later in the day.
The Islamabad International Airport was enveloped in fog by 11pm on Saturday, causing further complications for air travel.
The Meteorological Department official highlighted the current cold wave, predicting its grip on the Potohar region, northern areas, central Punjab, and the entire country on Sunday.
Despite a gradual improvement expected by the end of the next week, the official warned of continued cold, dry, and foggy conditions across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was recorded at 2 degrees Celsius.
The harsh weather has led to an increase in cold-related ailments, especially among the elderly and children. Hospitals are witnessing over 200 patients daily with complaints related to extreme cold conditions.
Transportation has also taken a significant hit, with the thick blanket of early-morning fog causing delays in trains arriving from Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, and Lahore.
The flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines and other airlines were also affected, resulting in diversions, delays, and cancellations.
Moreover, the flights from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Al-Qasim were diverted to Lahore due to unsafe visibility conditions in Islamabad, with the PIA announcing a change in flight schedules for Sunday and Monday.
Despite the inconveniences, flight operations at Islamabad International Airport resumed their regular schedule in the evening after an improvement in weather conditions.
