A severe cold wave has gripped most parts of the country, with several northern and mountainous areas experiencing temperatures falling well below the freezing point-

According to the latest forecast issued by the Meteorological Department today, smog and fog conditions in the plain areas are expected to intensify, potentially causing challenges of reduced visibility.

Also, the weather in most parts of the country will primarily remain cold and dry.

In the mountainous regions, conditions, especially during the morning and night hours, are expected to be severely cold.

Authorities have issued an advisory for the plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where smog and fog are likely to occur during the early morning and late-night hours.

Looking ahead, a further drop in day and night temperatures is expected in the northern areas. Along with this cold trend, the intensity of fog in the plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will gradually increase in the coming days.

Temperatures recorded in major cities this morning included five degrees Celsius in Islamabad, ten in Lahore, and nineteen degrees Celsius in Karachi. Peshawar recorded six degrees, while Quetta was at minus three, Gilgit at a severely cold minus five, and both Murree and Muzaffarabad recorded four degrees Celsius.