RAWALPINDI, June 13: The meteorological department on Thursday predicted above-normal rainfall in the upcoming monsoon, which would mitigate the problem of water shortage in the city.

Deputy Director Mohammad Saeed told this reporter there were indications that monsoon would start earlier than its normal starting time of first week of July.

He said the pre-monsoon rains might well begin around June 25. The deputy director said a weather system coming from the Indian side could mark the start of monsoon which would then continue up to September 15.

Meanwhile, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has said the city will be getting 14.5 MGD of water from Khanpur Dam and 7 MGD from the Rawal Dam as soon as the water situation improved.