ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: The Met Office here on Wednesday forecast widespread rains with snowfall on the hills in the coming days.

A spokesman for the Met Office said another weather system was likely to approach upper parts of the country in the next 24 hours, said the Met office deputy director, Mohammad Hanif.

"Starting from Thursday till Sunday, intermittent light rain is expected in Lahore and Rawalpindi while snowfall is likely in upper parts of NWFP, North Balochistan, Kashmir and Galliyat during the period."

He said from Sunday, the rainy system would intensify and extend to southern parts of the country. This weather system is unprecedented. Pakistan had been hit by similar weather system way back in the 70s and 80s, he added. "Alterations in global environmental pattern has affected weather systems of the world."