Dense fog blankets Karachi

KARACHI: Residents of the port city woke up to a pleasant but hazy start to Sunday as dense fog enveloped several parts of Karachi, sharply reducing visibility and disrupting routine activities.

The fog turned the city’s skyline opaque, with visibility dropping to zero at the M-9 Motorway. Thick fog was reported in multiple areas, including Northern Bypass, University Road, Karimabad, North Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, II Chundrigar Road, Clifton, Defence, Surjani Town, Sohrab Goth and surrounding localities.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Karachi’s weather is expected to remain mostly cloudy over the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature is likely to range between 28°C and 30°C, while the minimum temperature recorded was 17.5°C. Humidity levels stood at 95%, with a light seven-kilometre-per-hour breeze blowing from the northeast.

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The foggy conditions also affected air travel, with six international flights diverted from Jinnah International Airport. The Pakistan Aviation Authority said several flights were redirected to Muscat, while one private airline flight was diverted to Islamabad due to restricted visibility.

The aviation authority said flight diversions during low visibility are a routine safety measure.

Earlier this month, Karachi experienced a noticeable dip in temperatures, with mercury falling to single digits in some areas, marking the arrival of the city’s brief winter season.