ISLAMABAD: Six international flights bound for Karachi were diverted to Muscat and Islamabad on Sunday due to dense fog engulfing the port city, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said.
In a statement, the PAA said limited visibility prompted the diversions, describing the measure as a routine safety precaution.
Flights operated by Pegasus, Etihad, Flyadeal and Gulf Air were diverted to Muscat, while a Fly Jinnah flight from Jeddah was redirected to Islamabad. A Pakistan International Airlines flight arriving from Madinah was also diverted to Muscat.
The disruptions came as Karachi ranked as the world’s fourth most polluted city on Sunday morning, according to Swiss air quality monitoring agency IQAir. The city recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 215, classified as “very unhealthy”.
Meanwhile, thick fog also disrupted road travel in parts of Punjab, prompting authorities to close several motorway sections late Saturday night.
According to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP), the M-2 was closed from Thokar Niaz Baig to Kot Momin, the M-3 from Faizpur to Darkhana, and the M-4 from Pindi Bhattiyan to Abdul Hakeem. The M-11, linking Lahore with Sambrial, was also shut.
The motorway sections were reopened around 10am on Sunday after visibility improved.
Punjab experiences severe smog each winter, largely attributed to crop residue burning, vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
The smog season typically begins in late October, peaks between November and January, and can persist until February, posing serious risks to public health and routine life.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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