Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to make one of its busiest highways significantly safer and smarter. Under the “Weather on the Way” initiative, a next-generation road weather alert system is being deployed on the Islamabad Lahore Motorway (M-2), a vital corridor utilized by millions of travellers every year.
This system, developed through a flagship partnership between WeatherWalay and ONE Network, is the first of its kind in the region, bringing hyperlocal, real-time weather intelligence directly to drivers, road operators, and public agencies.
How the System Works on the Motorway
The new setup goes far beyond a simple weather forecast. It connects:
• 14 automated weather stations
• 5 dedicated air quality sensors
• 4 visibility sensors
• Satellite feeds and advanced weather models
All these inputs are processed through a decision support engine that continuously tracks hazards like:
• Dense fog
• Heavy rain
• Strong winds
• Sudden drops in visibility
The most important part: this information is pushed to travellers in real time through:
• Smartphone apps
• Web platforms
• SMD display screens at toll plazas and key points on the route
This means a family heading to Lahore, a truck driver transporting goods, or a student returning to Islamabad will be able to see live warnings and route conditions before entering dangerous stretches.
A New Standard for Road Safety and Planning
For the first time in Pakistan, road operators, government agencies, and drivers will rely on the same real-time weather data. This shared picture helps with:
• Better route planning
• Faster hazard response
• Smarter traffic management
• More accurate fog and weather advisories
It mirrors best practices in developed countries, where granular, ground-verified data is central to road safety strategies.
Benefits Beyond the Motorway
While the system is being deployed on the Islamabad–Lahore Motorway M-2, its impact spreads much wider. The dense network of sensors and weather stations will help:
• Farmers plan irrigation, sowing, and harvesting around actual local conditions
• Authorities manage fog-prone areas more effectively
• Agencies track air quality and pollution events
• Health and agriculture experts monitor dengue-prone environments, crop pests, and plant diseases
Read more: Pakistan launches $50 million project to install new radars, set up 300 new weather stations
The system is powered by locally developed software, combined with selective imported components, and can support institutions like Motorway Police, NDMA, and provincial departments in planning operations with greater confidence.
Advanced Modelling for Pakistan’s Unique Terrain
WeatherWalay’s modelling suite blends:
• European, German, US, Swiss, and
• Indigenous Pakistani weather models
These are configured especially for Pakistan’s complex terrain and microclimates. For example, within Islamabad alone, areas like Shah Allah Ditta, Bhara Kahu, and Banigala can get hundreds of millimetres of different annual rainfall, despite being only a few kilometres apart.
Such variations affect:
• Heating and cooling needs
• Localised storms and fog
• Energy use and urban planning
This underscores why dense, ground-based sensor networks are essential in cities and regions where no two localities behave exactly the same.
Building Local Capacity and Climate Intelligence
WeatherWalay also cooperates closely with universities and students, sharing datasets, offering research support, and providing internships. This helps grow a new generation of local experts in climate and weather technology.
With “Weather on the Way”, Pakistan is not just installing equipment—it is building a climate-smart future where weather is:
• Monitored
• Understood
• Anticipated
And actively used to protect lives, support farmers, guide planners, and keep travellers safer along one of the country’s most important highways.