Dense fog forced the closure of several sections of the M-4 and M-5 motorways in Punjab on Thursday morning, disrupting travel for commuters across the province as visibility dropped sharply.
Motorway Police spokesman Syed Imran Ahmed said the M-5 motorway was closed to traffic from Multan to Zahir Pir, while the M-4 was closed from Khanewal to Abdul Hakim for the safety of travellers. The M-4 section between Pindi Bhattian and Abdul Hakeem was also closed to heavy traffic because of the poor visibility.
A Motorway Police notice also showed the M-4 closed between Shamkot and Abdul Hakeem, a stretch of about 35 kilometres, with dense fog given as the reason for the closure.
Officials advised travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys in foggy conditions and, where travel could not be avoided, to prefer the daytime hours between 10 in the morning and 6 in the evening, when visibility is generally better. Drivers were also asked to keep a reasonable distance from the vehicle ahead, to drive slowly, and to switch on their fog lights along with their headlights and rear lights.
Thursday’s closures were not the first of the week. Similar fog-related shutdowns were reported earlier in the week, including on Tuesday, when the M-4 was closed to heavy traffic between Pindi Bhattian and Abdul Hakeem and other sections were restricted, according to Motorway Police. The repeated closures show how quickly the winter fog season has taken hold across Punjab this year.
Thick fog is a regular feature of winter mornings in Punjab, and it frequently disrupts road travel in the province. Motorway Police routinely shut affected stretches when visibility falls to dangerous levels, and reopen them once conditions improve, in order to prevent accidents on the high-speed routes where fast-moving traffic leaves little room for error.
Thursday’s closures came as fog settled over parts of central and southern Punjab, including the areas around Multan, Khanewal and Rahim Yar Khan. Commuters were advised to check the latest traffic updates before setting out and to use alternative routes where possible, while transporters were asked to plan their journeys within the daylight hours suggested by the Motorway Police.
