QUETTA: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a weather alert forecasting a significant western disturbance set to enter Balochistan on December 19th, which will subsequently influence weather patterns across the upper regions of the country until December 23rd.
According to the Met Office, the weather system will first impact Balochistan, bringing widespread rain, gusty winds, and thunderstorms starting Thursday. The disturbance is then expected to move northeastward, affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and parts of Punjab, including Islamabad, over the five-day period.
While the province is primarily expected to receive rain and thunderstorms, the upper regions of the country are bracing for more severe conditions. The PMD has predicted heavy snowfall over the hills of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, which is likely to disrupt road connectivity. Key tourist destinations such as Naran, Kaghan, and Murree may experience road closures and hazardous, slippery conditions.
The weather advisory also warns of potential landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the risk of avalanches in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Authorities have urged tourists and travelers, particularly those in hilly areas, to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential travel during the active weather window from December 19th to 23rd.
Residents in Balochistan and other affected regions have been advised to take necessary precautions against the impending inclement weather, which marks the onset of a typical winter weather pattern for the region.
Meanwhile the National Party (NP) has vehemently condemned the ongoing “Balochistan Leaks” campaign, labeling it a systematic conspiracy to destabilize the province’s political environment and erode public trust in elected representatives.
In a strong statement, the party’s provincial spokesperson alleged the campaign is a coordinated effort to tarnish the reputation of assembly members, particularly targeting central NP leader Rehmat Saleh Baloch with fabricated corruption charges. The spokesperson dismissed the allegations as “baseless and contrary to facts,” asserting that the videos in circulation are fake creations using modern technology and artificial intelligence.
