The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has reduced water outflow off the Tarbela Dam on the mighty Indus River from 45,000 to 20,000 cusecs for irrigation and hydel power generation purposes as widespread rains in the upcountry and nearly 30,000 running water in its tributary the River Kabul at Nowshera was found sufficient to meet water needs of provinces for irrigating Rabi crops, including wheat, oil seeds, grams, winter vegetables, fodder etc.
Punjab Irrigation engineers told Business Recorder that the water regulatory body has increased out flow from the Mangla Dam on the River Jhelum upto 60,000 cusecs to empty the dam so that WAPDA could carry out necessary repairs later this month.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued severe weather advisory forecasting isolated heavy falls accompanied with occasional hailing in (Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala divisions), Islamabad and Kashmir during Sunday (night) to Monday. The possibility of landslides in Kashmir and adjoining areas of Baltistan can not be ruled out during the period, it warned.
In its daily forecast for today (Monday) the Met Office said that widespread rain-thunderstorm with (snowfall over the hills) was expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan divisions, while at scattered places in upper Punjab (Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal divisions, Bannu division, Upper FATA (Bajaur, Mohmand, Kurram, Orakzai, Khyber agencies), Gilgit-Baltistan and at isolated places in Lower FATA (North & South Waziristan), D I Khan division. Isolated heavy falls with hailstorm is expected in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.