Smog disrupts air traffic in Pakistan

Several flights have been cancelled amid thick smog in Pakistan, officials say.

A thick smog has engulfed Pakistan's major cities causing air traffic disruption and widespread outbreaks of allergies.

"Five flights have been diverted due to poor visibility this morning," Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan spokesperson Parvez George told DPA.

International flights were scheduled to land in the southern city of Karachi.

Air traffic at Lahore airport had already been disrupted last week.

Poor visibility caused by thick smog has resulted in road accidents, according to reports, including on the Lahore-Islamabad motorway and several other cities in the central province of Punjab. More than a dozen people have been killed.

The Punjab government is considering shutting down factories as a short term measure to deal with the situation, but has not issued any such directive so far.

Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) chief Ghulam Rasool said lack of rain was the reason for the smog. The chances of rain during the next couple of weeks are limited, he said.

Khawaja Salman Rafique, adviser to the Punjab chief minister urged citizens to adopt precautionary measures to avoid eye and ear infection.


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Source: AAP



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