Widespread off-season rains and snow falls in the upper regions of the country bring great relief to the people of Barani areas and enable the farmers to sow wheat crop on large tracts of Barani land.
The agriculture experts told Business Recorder that the country which had below average rains during the monsoon season was facing up to 50 shortage of water for the sowing of Rabi crop this year.
The situation had become serious, in the districts of Attock, Jehlum, Chakwal, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, and Bhakkar where canal water is not available and agriculture is totally dependent on the rain water.
The experts said that these rains have provided enough water and moisture to sow the wheat crop and fodder for the animals. The small dams have been filled by these off season and unexpected rains.
Some cities of Northern Areas received abnormally heavy rains during the past three days. According to the forecast this rain will continue for another 24 hours.
In the NWFP, traffic on the Lowari-top has been suspended due to snowfall and direct road link of Chitral has been cut-off with rest of the country.
According to the latest data, district Dir in NWFP received the heaviest rain with 330 mm, Malam Jubba 200, Chitral 180 mm, Kalam 133 mm, Darosh 180 mm, Islamabad 60 mm, Rawalpindi 45 mm, Risalpur 93 mm, Abottabad 30 mm, Muzaffarabad 30 mm and Murree 90 mm, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Faisalabad also received light rains.
The experts opined that with rains in the upper regions and catchment areas the water situation in the country is definitely going to improve although at present it is not possible to give the exact quantum of water.