LAHORE: Rain accompanied by strong wind lashed Lahore and some other cities in Punjab on Thursday, ridding most parts of the province of pollution and fog.

It rained twice in Lahore – first in the morning and then in the evening. The first spell visibly settled additional pollution in the air. The second spell was somewhat heavy and it also cleaned dusty plants and trees, making them appear greener after nearly two months.

The Met Department said a shallow westerly wave that gave the rain was likely to persist during the next two to three days. Besides Lahore, it said, cities in KP, Punjab and Balochistan also received light rain.

It forecast mainly cold and dry weather in most parts of the country in the next 24 hours (Friday). However, rain-thunderstorm with light snowfall over the hills is expected at a few places in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi divisions, Upper Fata, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Foggy conditions are likely to prevail at a few places in southern and central Punjab during morning hours.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2017