Almost the whole country has been in the grip of severe hot and dry weather for the past three days forcing the people to remain indoors or under shades to save themselves from the scorching heat. The meteorological department said on Sunday the weather remained hot and dry in most part of the country as mercury touched 49.0 degree Celsius at Nawanshah.
In the plains of Punjab and SIndh the highest temperature remained between 42 Degree Celsius and 49 C. However, maximum temperature in Gilgit-Baltistan/Azad Kashmir 40 C was recorded at Muzaffarabad and Pattari. Minimum temperature 9.5 C was recorded at Hunza,
Met office forecast mainly hot and dry weather in most parts of the country today (Monday) with dust raising winds in SIndh. However, a few thunder/rain is likely to occur over Malakand, Bannu divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. It maintained that plain areas of the country will remain under the grip of the severe heat-wave conditions during next few days.
However, it has been a matter of great relief that despite rise in temperature there was insignificant increase in electricity demand which remained 14,900 MW against the generation of 14,087 MW. The manageable shortfall between demand and supply was 820 MW despite supply of 600 MW to KESC.
PEPCO's hydel-power generation units at Tarbela are producing more than 2,500 MW and Mangla 10 units are generating 1,050 MW of electricity. The total hydel-energy mix was 5,553 MW and Independent Power Producers contributed 6,752 MW of electricity to the national grid system.