ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s meteorological department warned of changing weather intensity while predicting rains and snowfall on Thursday, asking all relevant government departments to take necessary measures to deal with the situation and urging travelers and tourists in mountainous regions to ensure their safety.
Pakistan witnessed unprecedented monsoon rains last year that triggered flash floods which washed away crops, houses and public infrastructure in the southern region of the country. According to senior United Nations officials, the country needs around $16.3 billion for climate-resilient recovery and reconstruction.
The international community has widely recognized the recent floods were caused by changing weather patterns that necessitated collective action. This is despite the fact that Pakistan is responsible for only 0.8 percent of global greenhouse emissions, though it is also counted among the most vulnerable countries to extreme weather caused by climate change.
As the country continues to deal with the devastation caused by the recent floods, the meteorological department informed in a notification that a westerly wave was expected to enter northern Balochistan late Friday that would lead to moderate rain and snowfall on hills in areas like Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat and Chaman.
A similar forecast was also made for Murree, Gulliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Dir, Chitral, Swat and Abbottabad.
Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad, and some areas in the Pothohar region are also likely to experience light rain over the weekend.
The meteorological department said the weather forecast was from 6th to 9th January while asking the relevant departments to “prepare general and area/region specific awareness campaign and ensure widespread propagation of likely threats/hazards.”
“Medical resources, paramedics, equipment and medicine [should] be deployed as per the vulnerability/risks identified in different regions to meet respective regional requirements,” the notification added. “Ensure that tourist/visitors/travelers in at-risk/affected areas [are] apprised/forewarned about forecasted weather and road conditions.”
It also asked the authorities to “ensure availability of emergency services personnel during the forecasted period.”
The meteorological department asked people to maintain a decent stock of basic commodities in regions that usually get cut off from the rest of the country during snowfall.
More than 20 snow tourists, including nine children, died in freezing temperatures after their vehicles were stuck in the Pakistani hill station of Murree last year.
The families of the victims blamed the government for not responding on time despite getting an advance warning of heavy snowfall.
