The Pakistan Meteorological department (PMD) has said that severe drought conditions have improved in the country after two spells of widespread winter rain in January. The recent rain fall has provided relief in the drought districts of Dadu, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, Karachi, Larkana, Mohenjodaro, Nowshera Feroze, Sukkur, Nawabsha, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpur Khas, Quetta, Sibbi, Kalat, Zhob and Khuzdar.

However, it said, drought conditions with moderate intensity are likely to prevail in districts of Sindh province - Mitiyari, Qambar, Sajawal, Shahdkot, Sanghar, Thatta, Tharparkar, Umarkot and in Balochistan - Awaran, Bolan, Chaghi, Gawadar, Mastung, Naushki, Kech, Kharan and Panjgur, whereas normal wet condiions are likely to prevail in the northern half of the country. Meanwhile Rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills occurred in most parts of the country as follows:

Balochistan: Kalat 22, Quetta (Samungli 15, Sheikh Manda 11), Zhob 07, Sibbi 05, Khuzdar 04. Sindh: Karachi (Saddar 18, Faisal Base 12, Landhi 07, Ap 06, North Nazimabad 04, North Karachi 03, Masroor 01), Joccoabad 12, Larkana 09, Sukkur, Thatta 08, Moenjodaro 07, Rohri 05, Padidan, Sh Benazirabad, Mirpur Khas 03, Dadu, Tandojam, Chhor 02.

Punjab: Mianwali 34, Islamabad (Z.P 29, Saidpur 29, A/P 27, Golra 26, Bokra 22), Murree 29, Rawalpindi (Shamsabad 27, Chaklala 24), Bhakkar 24, Kamra, Noorpur Thal, Jhang 20, Layyah 19, Sargodha (city 18, A/P 13), Chakwal, Joharabad 16, Hafizabad 14, Mangla, Jhelum 12, Kot Addu, M.B. Din, 11, Faisalabad 09, T.T. Singh 07, Lahore, Multan 06, Gujranwala, Okara 05, Shorkot, R.Y. Khan 04, Narowal, Gujrat, D.G. Khan, Khanewal 03, Sialkot (A/P 03, Cantt 01), Sahiwal 02.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Malamjabba 32, D.I. Khan, Parachinar 27, Risalpur, Cherat 24, Peshawar (A/P 22, City 18), Bannu 20, Dir (lower 18, upper 16), Saidu Sharif 17, Kohat 15, Kakul 12, Balakot 11, Kalam, Mirkhani 03, Pattan 02 ,Kashmir: Kotli 20, Kalam 04, Zhob, Murree 03, Skardu, Astore 01.

Met office said in Thursday weather report that more scattered intermittent rain-thunderstorm is expected in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan divisions), Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Faisalabad divisions), Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir tonight , while at isolated places in Bannu and Sahiwal divisions. Snowfall over the hills is also expected in Malakand division (Swat, Chitral, Kalam, Malamjabba & upper Dir), Hazara division and GB.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019