• Rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms forecast in various districts of Balochistan
• Major cities of Punjab likely to receive rain

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a new spell of rain from April 1 to April 4 across the country and has advised provincial and district administrations to make necessary arrangements.

The Met Office predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach the southwestern parts of Balochistan on April 1 and may persist until April 4.

Under the influence of this we­­ather system, rain, wind, and thunderstorms (with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms) are expected in Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Makran Coast (Gwadar, Pasni, Or­­mara), Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Kalat, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Quet­­ta, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saif­ullah, Noshki, Harnai, Zhob, and Mastung from the evening of April 1 to April 4, with occasional gaps.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, wind, and thunderstorms (with sn­­owfall over the mountains) are ex­­pected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mala­kand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbot­t­­abad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kurram, Sw­­a­bi, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Kar­ak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan from the night of April 1 to April 4. Heavy rainfall and hailstorms are also likely at isolated places during this period.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Provin­cial Disaster Management Autho­rity (PDMA) issued a rain alert for the province from April 1 to April 4, warning of rain, wind, and thunderstorms in multiple districts.

According to PDMA, rain is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang and Gujranwala. Rainfall is also forecast in Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab and Mandi Bahauddin.

The authority said rain is likely in Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisal­abad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Lay­­yah and Dera Ghazi Khan. Rain­fall is also expected in Multan, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Baha­walnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

PDMA said rainfall with hailstorms may occur in parts of the province during the period. It added that rainfall is expected in Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby areas, where hill torrents may flow between April 2 and April 4.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said alerts have been issued to commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab.

In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, rain, wind, and thunderstorms (with snowfall over the mountains) are expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar, as well as in Kashmir (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur) from the night of April 1 to April 4, with occasional gaps. Hailstorms and heavy rainfall are likely at isolated places in Kashmir.

In Sindh, rain, wind, and thunderstorms (with isolated hailstorms) are expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Tharparkar from April 2 to April 4, with occasional gaps.

The Met Office warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir during this period.

Due to heavy rains, flash flooding is expected in northeast Baloch­is­tan, including Khuzdar, Awaran, Kharan, Kalat, Mastung, Kohlu, Lasbela, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Qil­la Abdullah, and Sherani. Hill torrents are also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan, while local streams and nullahs in Khyber Pakh­tun­khwa (including Kurram, Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Ma­­la­kand, Kohistan, and Chitral) may experience increased water flow from April 2 to 4.

Imran Gabol in Lahore also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2026