Upper parts of country, AJK in grip of severe cold

Azad Kashmir and upper areas of the country including KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan have come under the grip of severe cold. The cold spell is being experienced in Malakand, Swat, Muzaffarabd, Neelam Valley, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit and Chilas. Weather experts said the cold weather is the result of light rain in Mingora and adjoining areas and light snowfall in mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pattan, Malam Jabba and Kalam in Malakand Division.
Reports say that mountains in Malam Jabba and Kalam are covered with white snow and a large number of people are visiting the area. Light cold is being experienced in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, Ziarat and Kalat where people have started wearing winter clothes. Temperature dropped to minus four degrees in Astore while it was minus three degrees in Skardu, Kalam and Kalat, Hunza Malam Jabba minus two and Rawalakot minus one degree Centigrade on Thursday.
According to Meteorological Department, cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the next 24 hours. However, light rain with light snowfall over the hills is expected at one or two places of Gilgit-Baltistan. Light rain-thunderstorm is expected at isolated places of south western parts of Balochistan in the next 48 hours.