The Met Office has asked the growers to avoid using pesticides and irrigating crops keeping in view the expected rainy spell ahead. Precautionary measures, it said, the farmers should take to protect their nurseries and vegetables from severe cold weather.

A strong westerly wave is affecting most upper and central parts of the country and likely to persist in upper parts till Wednesday morning," the Met added. Widespread rain with snowfall over the hills is expected in all districts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan while isolated falls in Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad and Rohri. Heavy rainfall/ snowfall are also expected in Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Harnai, Chaghi, Sibbi, Kalat, Mastung and Bolan during the period.

Wednesday: Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country while very cold in upper parts. However, rain with snowfall over hills is expected at isolated places in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Jhelum districts, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir. Dense Fog is likely to prevail in plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh while in a few districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during morning and night hours.

Thursday: Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country while very cold in upper parts. Dense Fog is likely to prevail in plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh while in few districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during morning and night hours.

Friday: Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country while very cold in upper parts. However, rain with snowfall over hills is expected at isolated places in western Balochistan. Fog is likely to prevail in plain areas of Punjab and upper Sindh during morning and night hours.

Saturday: Scattered rain with snowfall over hills is expected in Balochistan while at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan. Sunday: Scattered rain with snowfall over hills is expected in Balochistan and Sindh.