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KARACHI:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Monday that pollution caused by recent US-Israeli attacks on Iranian oil installations could deteriorate air quality in Pakistan’s western regions if prevailing winds carry pollutants across the border.
In a statement, the Met Office said air currents from Iran could carry pollutants to neighboring areas of Pakistan.
“Because of [the] Due to the recent situation in Iran, winds may carry pollutants and deteriorate air quality in the country’s western regions,” the PMD said.
Meanwhile, the PMD forecasts rain and thunderstorms in upper parts of Pakistan under the influence of a westerly weather system which is expected to approach from Monday evening and persist till March 12.
The Met Office has predicted partly cloudy to cloudy weather with moderate rain, wind and thunderstorms, including occasional heavy falls, in several districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Kohistan, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur.
Similar weather conditions are expected in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the same period.
Light rain and thunderstorms are also likely on March 10 and 11 in Khyber, Mohmand, Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bajaur, Bannu, Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurram, Kohat, Hangu and Mianwali.
According to the PMD, rain, wind and thunderstorms are also expected in Islamabad, Potohar region, Murree, Galliyat and neighboring areas from Monday evening to March 11, with intermittent interruptions.
“Hailstorms at isolated places are also likely in Islamabad and upper parts of the country during the forecast period,” the statement said.
