KARACHI: Sufficient rain expected

Published June 24, 2002

KARACHI, June 23: Good monsoon rains are expected all over the country as the climatic cycle has returned to normal, according to a meteorological department forecast.

South West Balochistan would, however, receive below normal rains. Monsoon rains are likely to start during this week in the upper parts of the country.

The water shortage would end soon as the situation in the reservoirs would improve on account of about 90 per cent of the long-term average snowfall over catchment areas during the last winter season and both the major reservoirs of Tarbela and Mangla would be filled to their capacity, said a spokesman for the meteorological department.

El-Nino phenomenon which suppresses monsoon rainfall in Pakistan is in its initial stage and is likely to develop to a mature category by the end of this year, which means hopefully this year’s monsoons may skip the effect of El-Nino,” the spokesman said.—APP