
Major parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Mastung, Turbat, Gwadar, Lasbela, Loralai, Zhob, Pishin districts have been receiving rain showers since Monday night.

A man holding an umbrella rides a cycle in snow fall in Quetta. PHOTO: NASEEM JAMES/EXPRESS
According to Metrological office, the Harboi hills, biggest Juniper forest in Pakistan, and Zirat received a foot of snow while the hills of Quetta also received snowfall on Wednesday morning. The snow fall and rain were continued until this report was filed. The Met office has predicted that over the next 24 hours, Rain (with snowfall over the hills) is expected at scattered plces in north Balochistan (Quetta, Zhob, Kalat divisions).

Local residents enjoy the snow fall at Hana Lake on January 21, 2015. PHOTO: BANARAS KHAN/EXPRESS
Overflow in the seasonal river in Dasht area of Turbat disrupted the traffic between Turbat and Karachi, while traffic between Quetta and Chaman also remained suspended for hours due to heavy snow fall on Khojak Top.
People in Ziarat and Quetta came out in large numbers and visited the hill top and picnic points, including Hanna lake which looked like a scene out of a fairy tale, to enjoy the first snow fall of the season.

Local residents enjoy the snow fall on the outskirts of Quetta on January 21, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
However, the people also had to bear the brunt of prolonged load shedding in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Snow has covered everything in border town of Chamman. PHOTO: BANARAS KHAN/EXPRESS
The environmentalists predicted that Balochistan needs more rain to lessen the impact of ongoing spell of drought. “There is a need of more rains since there was light or almost no rains in summer,” said Faiz Kakar, the head of IUCN.
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