ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain will offer Namaz-i-Istasqa on Monday to seek blessings of Allah Almighty to rid the nation of prolonged drought in the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the president appealed to the nation to seek the Almighty’s blessings and hold countrywide special prayers for rain on Monday.

He asked ulema to lead prayers in all parts of the country for rain to end the drought.

A spokesman for the president said that Mr Hussain would offer Namaz-i-Istasqa after Zuhar prayers at the Presidency’s mosque.

Lack of rain in the country has led to drop of water levels in reservoirs and underground water and it is also having a serious impact on the agriculture sector.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the dry weather affecting most parts of the country would continue till January.

It further said that the country would have a dry winter in which, due to clear skies, the days would be warmer and the nights colder.

The country had faced severe drought-like situation in 2001 when the drought prolonged for a year and then in 2009 which continued for three to six months.

According to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) the dry spell would create more water shortage than 17 per cent announced earlier for the Rabi season.

It has been feared that if there is no rain till February the situation might worsen as reservoirs will reach a dead level by then.

Published in Dawn December 26th, 2016