ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman on Sunday urged citizens to take precautions as the South Asian country is expected to witness pre-monsoon rains and thunderstorms over the next five days. 

Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces have been experiencing extremely hot weather with temperatures soaring above 40°C, with humidity making the situation worse. 

The Met Office said this week that moist currents from the Arabian Sea were penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and a westerly wave was likely to enter these areas on June 25. 

Citing an advisory issued by the Met Office, Rehman said the current heat wave was likely to subside because of the pre-monsoon rains in the country from June 25 onwards. 

“Between June 25 and June 30, strong winds, thunderstorm and heavy rain are expected in various cities of Punjab, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Rehman wrote on Twitter. 

“In case of heavy rains, there is a fear of urban flooding in urban areas while floods and landslides in mountainous areas. All concerned and local institutions have been instructed to be alert and tourists to be cautious. Citizens are requested to stay away from weak infrastructure, power poles and rivers during strong winds and rains to avoid any untoward incident.” 

Under the influence of this system, wind, thunderstorm and heavy rain were likely to occur in various cities of Balochistan, southern Punjab and Sindh between June 26 and June 29, the minister said, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). 

Rain or wind-thundershower with few heavy falls is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh from the night of June 24, according to the PMD advisory. 

Rain with isolated heavy falls is also expected in Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Ziarat, Musakhel, D I Khan, Karak, Waziristan, D G khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara from June 26, while it is expected to hit Sukkur, Jacobabad and Larkana on June 27. 

The PMD also advised travelers and tourists to remain cautious during the forecast period and farmers to manage their activities keeping the advisory in view.