ISLAMABAD: The Met office has directed the farmers to speed up harvesting and threshing of standing wheat crops and avoid leaving the grains and reaped crops in the open as light rains and dust storm are expected on Sunday night.

The Met office has said that hot and dry weather is likely to prevail in most parts of the country during next two days, and the days temperatures are expected to remain 2-4°C above normal in most parts of the country.

However, due to scattered rains/dust storms, the day temperatures are expected to fall on Tuesday and may remain 2-3°C below normal, particularly in Punjab, Fata, KP, GB and Kashmir during the coming week.

At the same time a fresh westerly wave is likely to approach Pakistan on Sunday evening or Monday that will produce rains and gusty winds in plain areas during the coming week.

Under the influence of this westerly wave, scattered rain accompanied by dust storm is expected in Islamabad, Fata, KP, Punjab, GB and Kashmir during next week.

The Met office has said that the hot and dry weather in most parts of the country was favourable for the farmers and they should complete wheat harvesting and threshing as soon as possible.

“During the period evening dust-storms will be common in Punjab and KP, the farmers should not leave their harvested wheat unbound and threshed straw uncovered,” the spokesman of the Met office added.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016