ISLAMABAD: A fresh western weather system has entered Balochistan, triggering rain and snowfall across several parts of the province, with heavy downpours lashing Chaman city and its surrounding areas and submerging low-lying localities.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, further rain and snowfall are expected in different parts of the country until tomorrow.
The forecast indicates rain in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Murree and the Galiyat, with snowfall likely in mountainous regions, while several districts of Punjab, including Lahore, are also expected to receive rain. Sindh is forecast to see rainfall starting today as well.
Reports said that after a three-day break, intermittent rain has resumed in Chaman as well as northern, eastern and western parts of Balochistan. While plain areas experienced heavy rainfall, mountainous regions received intense snowfall.
Following the rain and snow, icy winds swept the region, pushing temperatures in Chaman below the freezing point. Power supply in the city was suspended amid the severe cold, causing serious difficulties for residents in accessing drinking water and other basic necessities.
In Qalat and its adjoining areas, the second snowfall of the year blanketed the region in white, intensifying the cold, while gas pressure in households dropped sharply. Light snowfall was also reported in the Quetta valley and nearby areas, while Mastung, Noshki and Kharan received rain. At Lakpass, heavy snowfall began and is expected to continue through tonight and tomorrow, further worsening the cold conditions.
On the instructions of Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has been placed on high alert in view of the anticipated snowfall and adverse weather. All snow-clearing units have been directed to remain alert and operational. The chief minister has ordered hourly situation reports and stated that he is personally monitoring developments.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army successfully evacuated a female patient from Leepa Valley in Azad Kashmir to the Military Hospital in Rawalpindi as part of a rescue and relief operation. The evacuation was carried out by helicopter after heavy snowfall completely cut off ground access to the valley. Local residents praised the army’s professionalism, swift decision-making and commitment to public service.
According to the Met Office, cold weather persists in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with rain accompanied by thunder expected this evening and night. Cold winds are blowing, and the temperature was recorded at five degrees Celsius. Heavy snowfall is forecast in Murree and the Galiyat during the afternoon. Islamabad is expected to experience winds blowing at a speed of seven kilometres per hour, with humidity levels exceeding 50 per cent.
In Lahore, cold weather continues, with the temperature recorded at eight degrees Celsius and humidity at 71 percent. Cloud cover stands at 72 percent, with light fog present in the atmosphere. Daytime temperatures are expected to rise to around 15 degrees Celsius. Lahore’s air quality index was recorded at 179, though the city is not currently listed among the world’s most polluted cities.
Karachi remains under the grip of icy winds, with minimum temperatures dropping between nine and 13 degrees Celsius. The Met Office forecasts that the minimum temperature today will range between nine and 11 degrees, while the maximum is expected to remain between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. Karachi currently ranks tenth among the world’s most polluted cities.
