A thick blanket of dense fog forced the closure of a key stretch of the M5 Motorway on Monday, August 25, 2025, disrupting travel for commuters between Multan and Sukkur. The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) implemented the M5 motorway closed measure from 6am to 11:30am to protect drivers amid zero-visibility conditions. This action affected the route from Multan Sher Shah Interchange to Zahir Pir in Rahim Yar Khan district, where fog reduced sightlines to under 10 metres in places. No major accidents occurred during the period, but the diversion to the National Highway led to severe congestion at multiple points. The decision prioritised safety in a region prone to seasonal fog, impacting daily commutes and freight movement vital to South Asia’s trade corridors.
Dense Fog M5 Pakistan Prompts Swift Action
The M5 motorway closed incident stemmed from overnight fog buildup, a common hazard in Punjab’s cotton belt during late summer transitions. NHMP patrols first reported the issue at 5:30am, prompting an immediate shutdown to avert pile-ups. Visibility plunged as temperatures hovered at 22°C, with humidity levels exceeding 90 per cent according to local meteorological data. This dense fog M5 Pakistan event echoes similar disruptions in prior years, but authorities acted faster this time, reopening the stretch after aerial assessments confirmed safer conditions by late morning.
Motorists encountered barriers at entry points, with electronic signs flashing warnings in Urdu and English. Over 2,000 vehicles rerouted within the first hour, per NHMP logs. The closure spared no lane, halting both northbound and southbound traffic uniformly. Rescue teams stood ready at interchanges, equipped with thermal imaging for any stragglers. This proactive stance prevented the multi-vehicle crashes seen in past fog episodes on the network.
Official Response to Motorway Closure Punjab Fog
NHMP spokesperson Imran Shah confirmed the details in a midday briefing. “The decision to close a section of the M5 was taken to ensure the safety of motorists as visibility had dropped significantly along the affected stretch,” Shah stated. He emphasised that dense fog M5 Pakistan conditions demanded zero tolerance for risks, citing a recent advisory from the force.
In a parallel statement, the NHMP issued a broader travel alert on Sunday, August 24, warning of fog across Punjab and Sindh. “Thick fog has severely reduced visibility, significantly increasing the risk of accidents on national highways and motorways,” the spokesperson noted. The advisory, echoed in a Punjab government release, urged journeys only between 10am and 6pm. It stressed fog lights, functional wipers, and doubled braking distances measures now standard after 2024’s fog-related fatalities rose by 15 per cent province-wide.
The Punjab Home Department corroborated the action, releasing data showing 1,200 fog incidents on motorways last monsoon season. Their press note at 10am Monday aligned with NHMP, advising avoidance of high beams that scatter light in mist. “Motorway closure Punjab fog like this saves lives; compliance is key,” read the official bulletin. These sources underscore coordinated efforts between federal and provincial bodies, a shift from siloed responses in earlier decades.
M5 Fog Visibility Issues Disrupt Regional Travel
The motorway closure Punjab fog ripple effects hit hard in agricultural heartlands. Freight lorries bound for Sukkur’s markets idled for hours, delaying perishable goods like mangoes and textiles worth PKR 150 million daily on this artery. Commuters to Jalalpur Pirwala and Shujabad tehsils in Multan district faced the brunt, with school buses and ambulances granted priority passages via side routes.
Diversions funnelled traffic through Uch Sharif, Alipur, and Muzaffargarh, where the National Highway N-5 buckled under volume. Reports from on-ground patrols indicated jams stretching 15 kilometres near Zahir Pir Interchange by 8am. One driver, speaking anonymously at a diversion point, described the scene: “We crawled at 5km/h; horns blared non-stop.” Fuel stations along the bypass reported 30 per cent sales spikes as vehicles topped up amid uncertainty.
M5 fog visibility issues extended beyond the closure zone, with spot checks revealing haze up to Sukkur. The Pakistan Meteorological Department logged fog persistence until noon, attributing it to stagnant air over the Indus plains. This weather pattern, intensified by climate shifts, now threatens monsoon precursors annually. In South Asia, such events compound logistics strains, from Karachi ports to Lahore hubs, where delays cascade into supply shortages.
Authorities deployed 50 additional NHMP units, including drone surveillance for real-time monitoring. Helpline 130 fielded 800 calls by 4pm, mostly queries on reopenings. Social media updates from official handles kept flows informed, reducing panic. Yet, informal traders in Rahim Yar Khan voiced frustrations over lost wages, highlighting fog’s economic bite on informal sectors.
Background on Fog Challenges in Punjab and Sindh
Seasonal dense fog M5 Pakistan occurrences trace to the Indo-Gangetic plain’s topography, where cool nights trap moisture over irrigated fields. Data from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency shows fog days in Punjab averaged 45 last year, up from 32 in 2020. The M5, spanning 392 kilometres, connects vital nodes: Multan’s industry to Sukkur’s agriculture, handling 40,000 vehicles daily.
Past closures, like the 2023 multi-day shutdown on M2, cost PKR 500 million in detours alone. Investments in smart signage and AI weather integration have cut response times by 40 per cent since 2024. Still, rural stretches like Zahir Pir remain vulnerable, lacking overhead lighting. The current M5 motorway closed episode fits a pattern: 12 fog-induced halts on southern motorways this quarter.
Climate experts link rising incidents to erratic monsoons, with Punjab seeing 10 per cent more foggy mornings. Regional cooperation via SAARC forums pushes for shared early-warning systems, but implementation lags. For South Asia, reliable motorways underpin 20 per cent of intra-regional trade, making fog a geopolitical friction point.
What’s Next for M5 Operations
NHMP plans nightly patrols through September, with fog lamps mandatory on all vehicles by year-end. A PKR 200 million upgrade for M5 interchanges includes elevated sensors. The Punjab government eyes subsidies for wiper kits in fog-prone districts. Travellers should monitor FM 95 for updates.
The M5 motorway closed disruption serves as a stark reminder: in fog’s grip, prevention trumps reaction, ensuring safer passage for South Asia’s road warriors.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 9th, 2025
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