KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged authorities to take precautionary measures and advised residents in the country’s hilly areas to exercise caution while traveling with cold weather and smog expected to grip several parts of the country this week. 

In its latest advisory, the NDMA said Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir areas are likely to experience mainly cold weather with isolated rain and snow on the hills from Dec. 7-12. 

It said cold and dry weather with smog or fog is likely to prevail in Punjab’s plains during the same time period. However, the disaster management authority said cloudy weather, with chances of isolated rainfall, is expected in the Potohar region, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, and northeastern parts of the province from Dec. 7-8.

“NDMA advises local authorities, emergency responders, and the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions,” the authority said. “Residents in northern and hilly areas should exercise caution while traveling due to the risk of slippery roads and reduced visibility.”

Meanwhile, the NDMA said cold and dry weather is expected in Sindh across the province from Dec. 7-12. 

The NDMA encouraged farmers to safeguard their crops during the changing weather, advising people in smog-affected areas to minimize outdoor exposure and take protective measures due to low-visibility conditions. 

Pakistan is ranked as the fifth-most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. In 2022, devastating floods affected over 33 million people and caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion, highlighting the country’s high susceptibility to extreme weather events.

Earlier this week, the NDMA concluded a two-day “Winter Freeze” simulation exercise (SimEx) to strengthen the country’s disaster preparedness and response mechanism against winter-related disasters such as cold weather, smog and earthquakes. 

Heavy smog also covered parts of Pakistan’s Punjab province in October and November while the country has suffered from devastating earthquakes, floods and other disasters in the past.