The Meteorological Department on Saturday forecasted rain in various upper parts of the country, including central Punjab and parts of interior Sindh, while hot and humid weather is expected to persist across most districts of Sindh and Balochistan.
According to Met Office updates, intermittent rain, accompanied by gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms, lashed several cities in northern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, offering relief from the intense summer heat that had gripped the region in recent days.
In Islamabad, the skies remained partly cloudy, with the possibility of heavy downpours in isolated areas. Rain was also expected at a few locations in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra, while similar conditions were forecasted in Malakand, Shangla, Kohistan, and Peshawar.
Despite the showers in some parts, most districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab remained hot and humid, the Met Office added.
In the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, rainfall began early in the morning and continued intermittently through the day. Samaa correspondent Umar Asif reported from Rawalpindi that low-lying areas experienced minor water accumulation, but overall civic infrastructure held up.
Downpour brings relief in Lahore
Earlier, scattered showers brought much-needed relief to Lahore, where temperatures had reached as high as 45°C over the past week. A fresh spell of rain in the morning brought the mercury down to 22°C, significantly improving the weather conditions.
According to Omar Yaqoob, reporting for Samaa from Lahore, the city witnessed strong winds followed by rainfall across various localities including Airport Road, Upper Mall, Garhi Shahu, Gulberg, Laxmi Chowk, and Model Town.
Citizens welcomed the sudden change in weather, describing it as a "rain of mercy" after weeks of oppressive heat and high humidity.
“The heat had made life miserable. Today’s rain feels like a blessing,” said a resident of Laxmi Chowk while speaking to local media.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department stated that the ongoing rain spell in Lahore is expected to continue for the next twelve hours. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert, stating that rainfall this monsoon season could exceed 25% above normal levels.
Forecast for Punjab and Sindh
Heavy rainfall is also expected in parts of central Punjab, including Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Talagang, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Okara.
Interior Sindh could receive scattered rain, though no major showers are forecasted for Karachi and coastal regions. The weather will remain dry and hot in most districts of Balochistan.
Authorities have advised caution in flood-prone and low-lying areas and have urged citizens to remain updated through official weather bulletins.
