Pakistan received 26% below normal monsoon rains

[Naveed Yaseen]

The country experienced 26 per cent below normal rainfall in the monsoon 2009 season, which is the third lowest in the last ten years, depict the latest figures released by met office on Thursday.

“The previous two lowest rainfall were in 2002 and 2004, when the shortfalls were recorded as 54 per cent and 38 per cent respectively,” Director General, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Dr. Qamar uz Zaman told this agency.

He said below normal rainfall was recorded throughout the country during this year’s monsoon season, except some parts of Sindh province which registered normal rainfall.

The highest amount of seasonal rainfall was received at Murree (843 mm), Balakot (756 mm) and Sialkot (718 mm), but still they all remained well below their normal values.

Karachi and Hyderabad in south western Sindh recorded exceptionally above normal rainfall with the percentage departure of 99 per cent and 71 per cent respectively. “The remaining parts of the country were the most affected by huge deficits in rainfall,” he said.

To a question, he said the weather is expected to remain dry throughout the country during the next five days. “One of the longest driest period in the country has already delayed the sowing of wheat and some minor crops in the rain-fed areas, because there is negligible moisture in the soil,” he added.

He said generally October and November are not considered as rainy period in the country, but this year it is a “worrisome condition,” because 15 per cent wheat is grown in the rain fed areas.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=204678