The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday issued a weather advisory for the next three to four days, forecasting rain in southern and central parts of the country due to an active monsoon system.

A press release issued by the Met Office said a low-pressure area was present over south-west Rajasthan and adjoining areas, causing monsoon currents over the southern and central parts of the country.

Under the influence of these currents, it said, rain and thundershowers were expected across the country, including Sindh, southern and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and northeastern areas of Balochistan, between July 24 and 27.

In Sindh, it forecast “rain-thundershowers with a few heavy falls” in the districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Nosheroferoz and Thatta between the evening of July 24 (Friday) and July 27 (Monday), with occasional gaps.

“Cloudy (weather) with light rain is also expected in Karachi during the forecast period,” the PMD statement added.

In Balochistan, for the same period, it said there would be “mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy” weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers expected in the northern and northeastern areas of Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Awaran and Khuzdar. Isolated heavy falls are also expected.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, it forecast “rain-windstorms” and thundershowers — also with isolated heavy falls — in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Khanewal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur from Friday evening to Monday.

The PMD also predicted mostly partly cloudy and at times cloudy weather conditions, with rain and thundershowers, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib and Chiniot, from the evening of July 24 to 26, “with occasional gaps”.

In KP, it forecast the same weather conditions in the regions of Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu, beginning this evening and lasting until July 27.

The PMD also forecast these weather conditions in GB’s Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from July 24 to 26, with gaps.

Meanwhile, it said that isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers were expected in Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from July 24 to 28.

The statement noted that heavy rains may cause urban flooding in Gujranwala and Lahore on Friday and Saturday, as well as in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad from July 24 to 26 (Friday to Sunday).

“Windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures,” the PMD said, cautioning tourists and travellers to remain cautious and farmers to manage their crop activities and take care of their livestock in view of the weather conditions.

The Met Office also urged concerned authorities to remain “vigilant” during the forecast period.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that, in view of the heavy rains forecast across Sindh, relevant departments had been placed on high alert, with district administrations, rescue services and emergency response teams on standby across the province.

In a post on X, the minister stated that machinery and pumping equipment were also being deployed to vulnerable areas. He advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall.

“The safety of citizens remains our top priority,” Memon said.

Last week, the PMD forecast rain, windstorms and thundershowers across most parts of the country from July 18 to July 25, urging provincial and district administrations to take precautionary measures to avert any untoward situation.

At least 37 people have already died in rain-related incidents as the ongoing monsoon spell triggered flash floods and landslides, damaging houses, crops, livestock and roads in KP, GB, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, it emerged on Wednesday.

Lahore has so far received the heaviest rainfall of this year’s monsoon — receiving 263mm of rain at the airport and surrounding areas on Thursday — which flooded roads and brought life to a halt.

KP has also been hard-hit, with the death toll from rain-related incidents rising to 20 on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting of the Emergency Response Committee at the National Emergencies Operations Centre (Neoc) to review the country’s preparedness for the ongoing monsoon season. According to him, the meeting reviewed provincial preparedness, relief supplies and drainage systems in detail.