QUETTA: Heavy snowfall and rain continued across several upper districts of Balochistan, including Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Chaman, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah and surrounding areas, as a strong westerly weather system gripped the province, sharply increasing cold intensity and disrupting daily life.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), snowfall began late at night and continued intermittently into Thursday, affecting routine activities and creating hazardous travel conditions. Rain and snow were also reported in Quetta and its suburbs, while districts such as Mastung, Sanjawi, Khanozai and Muslim Bagh experienced cold rain and freezing temperatures.
In Quetta and several other districts, the adverse weather triggered prolonged power outages, severe gas pressure shortages and unannounced load-shedding, compounding public hardship during extreme cold. Large parts of the city, including Sariab, Killi Kamalo, Badu, Alamo Chowk, Killi Kotwal, Nawan Killi and Pashtoonabad, remained without electricity for hours, prompting public concern and calls for urgent restoration.
PDMA officials said that on the special directives of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, rescue teams and heavy machinery were dispatched to snowfall-affected areas to clear roads and provide relief.
PDMA Director General Jahanzeb Khan said snow clearance operations were underway on key highways to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow, particularly in Chaman, Kan Mehtarzai, Ziarat and Killa Saifullah. He added that machinery and relief supplies had already been pre-positioned in vulnerable areas as a precautionary measure.
The PDMA control room remains operational round the clock, maintaining close coordination with district administrations to respond to emergencies. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and contact PDMA in case of any emergency.
Meanwhile, teams of the National Highway Authority (NHA) Balochistan North, under the leadership of General Manager Agha Inayatullah, worked continuously throughout the night to keep major national highways open on the instructions of Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and NHA CEO Captain (retd) Asadullah Khan. Highways successfully cleared included Quetta–Chaman (N-25), Lakpass–Sheikh Wasil (N-40), Kuchlak–Ziarat–Kan Mehtarzai–Muslim Bagh (N-50), and Mach–Kolpur–Quetta (N-65).
The PMD has warned that the weather system is expected to persist until January 28, with peak intensity forecast for January 22 and 23. About 25 districts may receive rain and nine districts snowfall, while strong winds of 30–35 km/h could damage weak structures and power lines.
District administrations have advised residents to remain indoors during snowfall, wear warm clothing, exercise caution on slippery roads, and stay alert to official advisories.
