ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Widespread rain/snowfall is predicted in the country, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, from Sunday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said an active weather system was likely to approach western parts of Pakistan on Saturday which would produce widespread rain/snowfall in the following three days.

As a result, the mercury will also drop significantly after Sunday. Heavy snowfall is expected over the hills, including Murree, on Monday and Tuesday.In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, widespread rain and snowfall will continue from Sunday to Wednesday.

The satellite imagery at the Met Office website on Friday showed thick clouds almost all over the country extending close to the coastal areas and northern Sindh.

The clouds are also visible in many Central Asian countries, Afghanistan and are moving deep into north-western India and Indian held Kashmir.

The Met Office said that starting on Saturday night, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha divisions and the federal capital will receive scattered rainfall. However, central and southern Punjab will receive rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.

Widespread rain is also expected in Peshawar, Kohat, Hazara and Malakand divisions of KP from Sunday to Tuesday. The hills of Malakand and Hazara divisions will receive heavy snowfall on Monday and Tuesday.

Balochistan’s Makran and Kalat divisions are also expected to receive widespread rain on Sunday and Monday. There will also be isolated snowfall over the hills of northern Baluchistan.

Scattered rains over upper Sindh, including Sukkur and Larkana divisions, and isolated rain in lower parts of the province have also been forecast on Sunday/Monday.—A Reporter