With rain and snowfall continuing in many parts of the country, this is being termed as one of the worst winters Pakistan has witnessed.

Extreme weather conditions have caused at least 75 deaths in the country up till now. The worst-hit was Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where the death toll from incidents of snow-sliding stood at 61 according to the latest reports. Balochistan was also severely affected as heavy rains across the province claimed 20 lives.

People, particularly tourists, have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel in snowbound and landslide-prone areas during the prevailing weather conditions.

Snow-covered mountains look over the streets of Shangla. — Umar Bacha

As schools remain shut, children play in the snow in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Snow covered mountains stand tall over Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Cashing in on the weather, shopkeepers use creative methods of advertising the fruit they are offering. — Umar Bacha

A thick layer of snow covers a rooftop in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Days of snow accumulated over roofs and treetops in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Tyre-tracks in the snow in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

A view of residential a area after snowfall in Mariabad, Quetta. — Reuters

A boy clears a snow-covered roof of his family house after heavy snowfall in Neelum Valley near the line of control. — Reuters

Vehicles are seen parked along the road, leading to the area with heavy snowfall, on the outskirts of Quetta. — Reuters

Local residents remove debris of a collapsed house following heavy snowfall that triggered an avalanche in Neelum Valley. — AFP

Local travellers wait to clear the main highway following heavy snowfall in Khanozai area, some 75km northeast of Quetta. — AFP

Injured avalanche victims arrive in an army helicopter following heavy snowfall in Neelum Valley. — AFP

Editorial

Updated 04 Aug, 2026

Swat bombing

IT is a bitter irony that terrorists struck a protest against violence in Swat on Sunday, causing at least 17...
04 Aug, 2026

Tariff blow

FOR an export sector already squeezed by high production costs, the additional 10pc tariff on top of the existing...
04 Aug, 2026

Perilous peaks

THE deaths of 10 climbers in an avalanche on Broad Peak is a sad reminder of the perils that many mountaineers face...
Updated 03 Aug, 2026

Farewell to arms?

PALESTINIAN resistance group Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons. It should be...
03 Aug, 2026

Unplanned future

A PROJECTION that Pakistan’s population could reach 400m by 2040 should not be treated as another dramatic number...
03 Aug, 2026

No more torture

EVEN the best laws on the books are worth little unless the state shows the willingness to enforce them. This is...