RAWALPINDI: After many years, Rawalpindi was once again covered in dense fog, bringing back memories of the city’s harsh winters and drastically reducing visibility across residential areas, markets, and main roads.
From 6:30am to 10am, thick fog blanketed streets, lanes, commercial areas, and all entry and exit routes. Residents had to drive with headlights on, while even inner roads and markets remained shrouded well into the morning.
Areas around the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and District Courts saw particularly low visibility, with objects barely visible until 9am. The fog began to lift after 10am as the sun appeared, though cloud cover continued, intensifying the cold.
Early morning dew coated rooftops, vehicles, markets, trees, and flower pots, evoking memories of Rawalpindi’s icy winters. The weather also caused delays, with judges, lawyers, and litigants arriving late and court proceedings starting at 10am instead of 9am.
Local elders, including Haji Chaudhry Imran and Hafiz Sajid Khan, remarked that the fog resembled conditions from 20 to 30 years ago. “Fog does occur every year, but its intensity has declined over time. The fog seen on Tuesday truly brought back the cold of earlier decades,” they said.
Meteorological expert Professor Naveed Khan explained the difference between fog and smog, stating, “Fog is a natural weather phenomenon formed when moisture in the air cools near the ground and condenses into tiny water droplets, creating a dense white or grey layer that reduces visibility.
Fog is essentially a cloud at ground level,” he added, clarifying that, unlike smog, fog contains no dust, smoke, or chemical pollutants, and appears whitish, whereas smog is darker and polluted.