The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather advisory urging authorities to ensure full preparedness ahead of an expected cold wave and wet spell across Pakistan.
According to the NDMA, a westerly weather system is likely to enter the western parts of the country from December 29, bringing rain and snowfall from tonight until January 2.
The system is expected to affect most upper and central regions on December 31 and persist in upper areas until the morning of January 2.
The authority warned that heavy snowfall may cause road closures and slippery conditions in areas including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galiyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, and Haveli.
It also cautioned about the risk of landslides and avalanches in hilly regions of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The NDMA advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to high-altitude and vulnerable areas. It also forecast foggy conditions in central and southern Punjab and Sindh during the wet spell.
The authority directed provincial disaster management bodies, including those in Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, and Islamabad, to keep emergency teams on alert, ensure timely public warnings, and take proactive steps to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. NDMA said it is closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also warned of rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall over hilly areas in the coming week, adding that daytime temperatures are likely to drop further, especially after the system passes.
