LAHORE:
After weeks of dry and dusty weather, a spell of rain and snowfall forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has spread across several parts of the country, bringing much-needed relief by reducing pollution, cooling the air and replenishing water supplies for standing crops at a critical stage.
The spell of rain, driven by the western disturbances typical of the winter season, not only broke a prolonged dry spell but also revived agricultural prospects, particularly for rainfed regions that had been struggling with moisture shortages.
Winter rains (November-February), often caused by western disturbances, increase river flows throughout Pakistan, especially affecting the upper basins of the Indus, Kabul and Swat rivers.
These, together with rains earlier in the year, can cause high river flows at the start of the season, sometimes affecting crops such as wheat.
Although the rains caused disruption in some low-lying areas, they were very welcomed by farmers, particularly in the barani (rain-fed) regions, where the rains arrived just in time to revive the gram crop.
With the country facing water shortages and the wheat crop entering a critical growth phase, the streak could hardly have come at a more opportune time.
While agricultural planners see clear positive signs for wheat, they remain cautious about quantifying the full impact at this stage. However, they are confident that the gram crop, now in the delicate flowering stage and in urgent need of moisture, will largely escape the effects of the drought.
Rainfed areas will benefit the most, as improved soil moisture is also expected to help farmers prepare for peanut planting in mid-March.
Meanwhile, water inflows and outflows in major rivers and reservoirs remained stable on Friday, with the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) reporting balanced discharge levels at key irrigation and hydropower points.
According to a WAPDA spokesperson, in Tarbela, the Indus River recorded an inflow of 17,000 cusecs and an equal outflow of 17,000 cusecs. In Mangla, the Jhelum river had an inflow of 11,100 cusecs, while the outflow was 6,100 cusecs.
At Chashma Barrage, the inflow was recorded at 18,900 cusecs, while the outflow was significantly higher at 30,000 cusecs.
Meanwhile, at Head Marala, Chenab river showed an inflow of 8,100 cusecs and an outflow of 4,100 cusecs. In Nowshera, the Kabul river recorded inflows and outflows of 12,700 cusecs.
The spokesperson said the Tarbela reservoir was at a water level of 1,492.00 feet, with a live storage of 2.747 million acre feet (MAF). In Mangla, the water level stood at 1,203.20 feet, with a storage of 4,459 MAF. At Chashma, the reservoir level was 648.00 feet, with a storage of 0.258 MAF.
The combined usable water storage in Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma was reported at 7.464 million acre-feet.
WAPDA said inflow and outflow figures from Tarbela and Chashma on the Indus, Nowshera in Kabul and Mangla in Jhelum represent 24-hour average flows, while data from Head Marala and other places reflect measurements taken at 6am on Friday.
