RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad received light rain on Thursday evening, adding chill to the air, while the Met Office predicted more rain and snowfall in Murree on Friday (today).
The day was heavily overcast, and in the evening, rain occurred in the twin cities and continued intermittently late into the night, bringing the mercury down to 3°C and disrupting normal life.
According to a Met official, a strong westerly wave is affecting most parts of the country and is likely to persist in the upper regions until tomorrow.
“Rain with wind/thunderstorm (with snowfall over hills) is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, and upper Punjab. Moderate to heavy rain/snow may also occur in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Punjab, and Kashmir,” he said.
Rain adds chill to twin cities while Met Office forecasts more rain, snowfall
On the other hand, the Met Office warned that heavy rain/snowfall may cause road closures or slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, and Rawalakot on January 23.
Heavy rain/snowfall may also cause flash flooding in local nullahs/streams of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, while landslides/avalanches are possible in hilly areas during this period.
Tourists were advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.
The rain in Rawalpindi created problems for road users, especially pedestrians and motorcycle riders, and made slushy conditions everywhere. Most of these roads and streets have been dug up for construction work at Kutchery Chowk, laying waterlines at 6th Road, and underground utility services in Raja Bazaar, with mud dumped alongside the roads.
Due to the rain, most people opted to stay indoors in the evening. Business activity was minimal, with main markets, city centres, bazaars, and shops largely deserted. Only food shops experienced thriving business.
The cold weather increased the sale of fish, soups, gajar ka halwa, and other fried items. Heavy crowds were witnessed at fried fish shops in Saddar, Chandni Chowk, Committee Chowk, Commercial Market, and Banni Chowk.
“After the rain, the sale of fried fish and tava fish increased. We worked from morning until late night,” said Mohammad Irfan, a fish shop owner at Saddar. He said some people preferred to dine at the shop, while others wanted to take it home.
On the other hand, electricity and gas loadshedding caused problems for the residents. Many residents of downtown Rawalpindi spent the day searching for alternatives to natural gas to cook food in the cold and chilly weather.
Meanwhile, snowfall started in Murree late on Thursday evening. Murree Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Shirazi asked officials to spread salt on the roads to prevent slipperiness. He also urged visitors to use only the designated roads allocated for vehicles in the hill station. A large number of people visited Murree ahead of the snowfall.
After the prediction of snowfall in Murree by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the City Traffic Police Murree issued a special traffic advisory for citizens and tourists to avoid any untoward incidents.
The City Traffic Police Murree instructed tourists to ensure a complete inspection of their vehicles before traveling to Murree, especially checking that brakes, tyres, and vehicle lights are in good condition.
In case of snowfall or slippery roads, the use of tyre chains has been made mandatory to maintain control over the vehicle.
The advisory also warned against creating double lines, parking in the middle or on the side of the road, or taking pictures/selfies, as these practices endanger lives. Tourists have been urged to park only in designated parking areas.
The City Traffic Police Murree has imposed a complete ban on the use of mobile phones while driving, adding that even a slight lack of attention can lead to serious accidents.
Foolproof traffic arrangements have been made under the special supervision of Chief Traffic Officer Murree Imran Razaq, said the traffic police.
Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2026
