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Motorway Fog Update, Lahore to Islamabad: Rain on 12–13 November, Fog After, and How to Check Before You Leave

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Motorway Fog Update, Lahore to Islamabad: Rain on 12–13 November, Fog After, and How to Check Before You Leave

If you are driving from Lahore to Islamabad this week, plan to travel between 10 am and 6 pm. That is the window the Motorway Police (NHMP) asked travellers to use on 10 and 11 November, while fog closed parts of the M-4 [1][2]. The Met Office (PMD) expects rain and thunderstorms in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and much of upper Punjab on 12 and 13 November, and says fog may form in patches over the plains once the rain stops [3]. The news reports from 10–11 November cited below name M-4 and M-1 closures, not the M-2, but that can change overnight. Check with NHMP before you leave.

Here is what the official updates say, what to expect day by day, and how to check the road yourself.

What closed on the motorways this week

  • 10 November, morning: NHMP's Central Region said the M-4 was closed to all vehicles between Shamkot and Abdul Hakeem because of poor visibility. The M-4 from Sher Shah (Multan) to Khanewal was closed to heavy vehicles. NHMP's 8 am update also showed heavy traffic stopped between Abdul Hakeem and Gojra, and the M-1 was shut earlier that morning between the Peshawar main toll plaza and Rashakai [2].
  • 10–11 November: The M-4 was closed to heavy traffic between Pindi Bhattian and Abdul Hakeem because of dense fog and smog [1][4].

In each case NHMP gave the same advice: travel in daylight, ideally from 10 am to 6 pm. Drive slowly, keep a safe gap, stay in your lane, and avoid unnecessary overtaking and sudden braking. Check fog lights, headlights, rear lights and wipers before you set off [1][2].

The weather from 11 to 14 November

The PMD says a westerly weather system reached the west and north of the country on the evening of 10 November. It is expected to strengthen on 12 November and may stay over upper parts of the country until the morning of 14 November [3].

  • 12–13 November: rain with wind and thunderstorms, with gaps, is forecast for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Sargodha and nearby districts. Isolated hailstorms are possible [3].
  • Hills: snowfall is likely on high mountains and glaciers [3].
  • After the rain: fog may develop in patches over the plains, and daytime temperatures may drop by 2–4°C [3].

Punjab's disaster authority (PDMA) told departments to stay on alert for the rain [5]. For anyone driving the M-2, that means two different risks in one week: wet roads and poor visibility in thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, then a chance of fog on the mornings after.

Smog: a little better, not gone

The Punjab government said on 11 November that it won't close schools or restrict market hours. It pointed to lower smog levels and the coming rain [5]. The Environment Protection Department said October's smog levels were 33% lower than a year earlier. Experts quoted by The Express Tribune said smog usually keeps rising until about 15 November and then starts to fall [5]. Lahore can still have hazy, low-visibility mornings this week, so keep the windows up and the air on recirculate in traffic.

How to check if the Lahore–Islamabad motorway is open today

  1. Call NHMP on 130 before you leave, and again if the weather turns on the way [6].
  2. Check the NHMP travel advisory. It lists closures by sector. Conditions can differ between the Lahore and Islamabad stretches of the M-2 [7].
  3. Check the PMD motorway fog table, and its date, if the page is up. When it loads, it shows expected fog for each M-2 stretch (Pindi Bhattian–Lahore, Kallar Kahar–Pindi Bhattian, Islamabad–Kallar Kahar) in three-hour blocks [8]. On the morning of 11 November the page still showed an issue date of 1 March 2026, so an old "No Fog" tells you nothing. A later check the same day returned a server error. Rely on NHMP when the date is stale or the page is down.
  4. Watch for heavy-traffic-only closures. A closure for heavy vehicles only means cars can still use the road, but visibility is poor. Slow down.
  5. Have a plan B. If a section closes, you can wait at a service area, use the GT Road, or move the trip to later in the day.

A simple plan for this week

  • Wednesday 11 November: start after 10 am, and expect morning haze around Lahore.
  • Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November: rain and thunderstorms are forecast at both ends of the route [3]. Allow extra time, and avoid the hills around Murree if your trip doesn't need them.
  • Saturday 14 November onwards: watch for fog on the plains after the rain [3]. Don't leave before dawn. A mid-morning start is usually smoother.

FAQ

Is the Lahore to Islamabad motorway closed today because of fog? The 10–11 November reports cited here name M-4 and M-1 closures, not the M-2 [1][2][4]. Fog closures change by the hour, so call NHMP on 130 or check its travel advisory before you leave.

What is the safest time to travel on the motorway in fog season? NHMP advises travelling between 10 am and 6 pm, when visibility is usually better [1][2].

Will it rain in Lahore this week? The PMD forecasts rain, wind and thunderstorms with gaps in Lahore and much of upper Punjab on 12 and 13 November, with fog patches possible over the plains afterwards [3].

Prefer someone else to drive? Grand Rent a Car

If you'd rather not drive through fog or a thunderstorm, Grand Rent a Car can take you from Lahore to Islamabad in its own black Toyota Fortuner 2026, JAC T9, Prado or Land Cruiser LC-300 look, always with a driver. We plan departures for daylight in fog season. An out-of-city day costs Rs30,000 for the Fortuner 2026 or JAC T9 and Rs40,000 for the Prado. The Land Cruiser LC-300 look and the white Yaris are the slot rate plus 25%. Tolls and fuel are extra. If the trip needs a night, the driver's overnight allowance is Rs2,000 per night. Pickup is anywhere in Lahore. (The Monday to Thursday offer is for Lahore city days only, not for Islamabad.)

See the Lahore to Islamabad car with driver page, the Fortuner with driver page, or every price on our car rental rates in Lahore page, then send your date on WhatsApp for a written quote.

Sources

  1. Dunya News, "Motorway M-4 closed to heavy traffic between Pindi Bhattian and Abdul Hakeem", updated 11 Nov 2026 (NHMP 10am–6pm advice, safety tips): https://www.dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/982194-motorway-m4-closed-to-heavy-traffic-between-pindi-bhattian-and-abdul-
  2. Daily Pakistan, "New travel timings advised for travel on motorways amid fog", 10 Nov 2026, 9:47 am (M-4 Shamkot–Abdul Hakeem, Sher Shah–Khanewal, Abdul Hakeem–Gojra; M-1 Peshawar–Rashakai; NHMP spokesperson Syed Imran Ahmed): https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/10-Nov-2026/new-travel-timings-advised-for-travel-on-motorways-amid-fog
  3. APP, "Rain, thunderstorms expected in upper parts of country from Nov 11-14: PMD", 10 Nov 2026: https://www.app.com.pk/national/rain-thunderstorms-expected-in-upper-parts-of-country-from-nov-11-14-pmd/ (also Bloom Pakistan, 12 Nov rain alert: https://bloompakistan.com/punjab-weather-alert-rain-lahore-rawalpindi-november-2026/)
  4. 24NewsHD, "Motorway M-4 closed to heavy vehicles amid dense fog and smog", 10 Nov 2026, 9:08 pm: https://www.24newshd.tv/10-Nov-2026/motorway-m-4-closed-heavy-vehicles-amid-dense-fog-smog
  5. The Express Tribune, "Govt rules out schools closure", 11 Nov 2026 (no school closures, October smog −33%, smog usually rises until 15 Nov, PDMA rain alert): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2639727/govt-rules-out-schools-closure
  6. Pakera, "Fog and Motorway Closures in Pakistan" (NHMP helpline 130): https://pakera.pk/fog-motorway-closure-pakistan/
  7. NHMP travel advisory: https://nhmp.gov.pk/travel-advisory (page loaded 11 Nov 2026; the advisory is posted as an image. The older beta advisory URL was unavailable when rechecked.)
  8. PMD National Weather Forecasting Centre, "FOG (Motorway) Conditions": https://nwfc.pmd.gov.pk/new/fog-motorways.php (on the morning of 11 Nov 2026 the issue date shown was still 1 March 2026; a midday recheck the same day returned HTTP 500)
  9. Grand prices: live https://grandrentacar.net/lahore-to-islamabad/, https://grandrentacar.net/fortuner-rent-lahore/ and https://grandrentacar.net/car-rental-rates-lahore/ (out-of-city Fortuner/JAC Rs30,000, Prado Rs40,000, LC/Yaris +25%, driver overnight Rs2,000 when the trip needs a night; Monday to Thursday offer is Lahore only; checked 11 Nov 2026).

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