Karachiites advised to stay at homes as heavy rain likely to hit port city today

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in a weather forecast that heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm is expected to hit Karachi today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) with occasional gaps.

The Met Office said heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta and other cities from March 1 and March 2 under the strong westerly wave system.

Isolated hailstorms in some parts of Karachi are also likely during the period, it added.

According to weather analyst Jawad Memon, powerful thunderstorm cells are currently present in the coastal areas of Balochistan, which are moving towards Sindh.

"Under its influence, rain activities may start in Karachi and adjoining areas in the next 3 to 4 hours," he said in his weather advisory issued at 8:17am in the morning.

However, to avoid any untoward situation, the Sindh government has announced a half-day in government and private offices of the metropolitan city today.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab requested citizens to "avoid unnecessary movement to avert any inconvenience" during the rain.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah declared a rain-emergency in the province and the local bodies, administrations, and hospitals have been put on high alert amid rain predictions.