After many years, Rawalpindi was shrouded in thick fog, bringing back memories of the city’s traditional harsh winter and significantly reducing visibility in residential areas, markets and main thoroughfares. From 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., thick fog covered the streets, alleys, shopping centers and all routes in and out of the city. Residents were forced to travel with their vehicle headlights on, while even city center roads and bazaars remained shrouded in fog until late in the morning. Areas surrounding the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and District Courts experienced particularly low visibility, with objects barely perceptible until 9am. The weather didn’t clear until after 10 a.m., once the sun had fully risen. Cloud cover accompanied the fog, further intensifying the cold spell. The fog and cloud cover brought back memories of Rawalpindi’s historic freezing winters. Morning dew covered roofs, markets, vehicles, trees and flower pots, with droplets of condensation visible throughout the city. Due to the weather conditions, lawyers, judges and litigants arrived late at the district courts, leading to the start of proceedings at 10 a.m. instead of the usual 9 a.m. Local elders, including Haji Chaudhry Imran and Hafiz Sajid Khan, said the fog seen on Tuesday was reminiscent of conditions 20-30 years ago. "Fog appears every year, but its intensity has diminished over time. The fog observed on Tuesday truly brought back the cold of previous decades," they said. Meteorological expert Professor Naveed Khan clarified the distinction between smog and fog, saying 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 gray layer that reduces visibility.
"Fog is essentially a cloud at ground level," he explained, adding that unlike smog, fog does not contain dust, smoke or chemical pollutants. Fog appears whitish, while smog is darker and contaminated with airborne particles.
