Farmers should step up measures to protect crops and nurseries from extreme weather, as fog is expected to grow across the central parts of the country, the Met Office alerted. It termed dry weather as primary reason behind scaled up fog in the central parts of the country in the next 10 days. "Extreme cold may be damaging to crops and nurseries. Growers should also schedule irrigation plans for the Rabi crops and remove the weeds from their fields to help improve agriculture output," it urged.
The Met office further said that cold and dry weather is expected to grip the most parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir may receive light rain with snowfall during the next 10 days. Temperature is likely to remain below normal in the most of the plains of the country with normal wind in the agriculture plains. However, sandstorm may swirl in southern Punjab and Sindh over the period.
In the next 24 hours: Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in the most parts of the country. A very cold weather is likely to continue in northern areas. Fog may continue in plains of Punjab, Upper Sindh and Peshawar Division during morning/night hours. Over the past 24 hours: Weather remained very cold in northern areas, while cold and dry elsewhere in the country. Fog prevailed over plains of Punjab, Upper Sindh and Peshawar Division during morning hours.
Temperature plunged to minus-11 degree Celsius in Skardu, minus-7 in Gupis, minus-6 each in Astore, Kalam and Hunza, minus-5 in Quetta, minus-4 each in Kalat and Gilgit, minus-3 each in Bagrote, Rawalakot, Dir and Bunji on Saturday. "Continental air is likely to prevail over most parts of the country during next few days," the Met said.