RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/KARACHI: Pakistan is confronting a stark weather dichotomy this week, as extreme heat scorches southern parts of the country while central and northern regions brace for widespread dust storms, rain, and potential landslides triggered by an incoming weather system. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that a fresh westerly wave is expected to approach the northwestern parts of the country on Saturday evening and would persist in the upper regions until May 5. In sharp contrast, extreme heat has gripped much of Sindh. In Karachi, the maximum temperature is expected to rise to 39 degrees Celsius over the weekend, according to Chief Meteorologist Ameer Hyder. Across the large swathes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the fresh westerly weather system is forecast to bring dust-thunderstorms and rain, with isolated heavy falls and hailstorms. Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Malakand, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Balakot, Haripur, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Khyber, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan are expected to witness thunderstorms, rains and hailstorms under the influence of the westerly wave from Saturday evening till Monday. In Punjab and the federal capital, a similar weather pattern is forecast for the same period. “Dust-thunderstorm/rain with isolated hailstorm is expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal,” the Met Office said. Southern Punjab districts, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, and Rajanpur, are expected to witness rain-windstorms on May 3 and May 4. The approaching system is also likely to affect Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from the night of May 2 until May 5, bringing rain and wind-thunderstorms to Diamer, Astore, Skardu, Hunza, Neelum Valley and Muzaffarabad. Parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, and Zhob, are also expected to see windstorms and thunderstorms from May 2 to May 4, while a dust-thunderstorm is predicted for upper Sindh on May 2 and May 3. PDMA issues alert Following the forecast, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab issued an alert, directing the deputy commissioners of all respective districts to remain vigilant to address any “untoward situation” during and after the rains. Both the PMD and PDMA have issued specific warnings and advisories.