ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has denied social media reports claiming that the country will face an “extremely cold winter” this year, calling such news misleading and unscientific.
In a clarification issued on Thursday, the PMD stated that its official winter forecast for December 2024 to February 2025 is based on verified international models and data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to the department, most parts of Pakistan are expected to experience temperatures slightly above normal, while rainfall will remain near or below normal levels.
The statement added that although temporary cold waves may occur in some regions due to western disturbances, there is no scientific evidence of any unusual or record-breaking cold spell across the country.
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The PMD further explained that the current weak-to-moderate “La Niña” conditions over the tropical Pacific Ocean usually reduce the intensity and frequency of winter weather systems in South and Southwest Asia, including Pakistan.
As a result, the country may see less rainfall and snowfall in northern and western hilly areas, and relatively mild temperatures in plains.
Meanwhile, a separate report highlighted the severe impact of this year’s prolonged monsoon season, which left vast areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan flooded. More than 229,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, forcing many families to return to unsafe or makeshift shelters.
The report noted that most water pumps are damaged or contaminated, while schools and health centers remain buried under mud or lack essential supplies. Food shortages have worsened as crops and animal fodder were washed away, leaving many rural communities dependent on relief aid.
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According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the floods affected nearly 1.2 million hectares of farmland in Punjab, destroying rice, cotton, and sugarcane crops. This has also disrupted the sowing of Rabi crops, raising fears of future food shortages.
The report also warned that stagnant water is increasing the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dengue, and malaria. Children and pregnant women are at the highest risk due to poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water in the affected areas.
