Long-awaited showers due from Monday

Islamabad: Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast a respite from the prolonged dry spell early next week.

According to a weatherman, Islamabad and adjoining Rawalpindi are likely to receive rains on Monday and Tuesday. "A fresh westerly wave is likely to enter western parts of the country on Sunday and grip the upper parts of the country on Monday causing thundershowers. It may persist over northern areas until Wednesday," he said.

The weatherman said under the influence of that weather system, rains coupled with thunderstorm are expected to fall at scattered places in Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Quetta, and Zhob divisions, Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and at isolated places in Bannu, Peshawar, Kohat, Kalat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sargodha on Monday and Tuesday.

He said snowfall was also expected in Malakand division, Galiyat, Naran, Kaghan, Murree, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the period. The doctors also welcomed the rains and said the precipitations would provide the long-awaited relief from the dry, foggy weather and thus, easing high incidence of throat and chest infections, flu and fever.