thegreencall 
On the morning of October 29, 2025, at the time of Fajr prayers in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, people were astonished to witness an unusual spectacle in the sky. Some claimed it was due to climate change, while others gave their own interpretations. But according to climate expert Mujtaba Baig, here is the scientific explanation for readers of The Green Call.
This was a natural astronomical and atmospheric phenomenon known as cloud iridescence or iridescent clouds. In Urdu, it can be described as “rainbow clouds” or “pearl-like clouds.”
In such clouds, rainbow-like colored patches or rings appear that glow in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet hues. As seen in the photos, the cloud was spread out like a bird, shining with multicolored light from within, with some white streaks (like a tail) also visible. This occurs when sunlight strikes tiny particles in the cloud and splits into different colors.
The phenomenon is caused by diffraction — the bending of light. Clouds, particularly of the cirrus or altocumulus type, contain tiny ice crystals or water droplets of nearly uniform size. When sunlight hits them, it bends and spreads into a spectrum of colors, much like the rainbow patterns seen on soap bubbles or a thin layer of oil. This usually occurs close to the Sun or Moon (within 10–40 degrees) and is more pronounced during sunrise or sunset, as the sunlight strikes the clouds at an angle.
The timing at Fajr (around 5:30–6:00 a.m.) was perfect for this appearance, since the Sun was near the horizon and its rays brushed across the clouds. The Quetta and Balochistan region (including Gulistan, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, etc.) is dry and clear, making it easy for cirrus clouds to form. Other pictures and videos shared on X today also confirmed that this sight was locally observed.
In October, cold winds begin to move into Pakistan’s northern and western regions. These can activate high-altitude layers in the stratosphere, sometimes resembling Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC). Although rare, such phenomena may become more frequent in 2025 due to increased solar activity (solar storms).
Importantly, this is not dangerous at all! It is a completely natural and harmless phenomenon. Many people mistake it for a UFO or something mysterious, but it is purely an optical effect. Similar iridescent clouds are observed worldwide (in Antarctica, Europe, or the U.S.), and scientists study them closely.
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