ISLAMABAD, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A three-day fresh rain spell with snowfall has hit parts of Pakistan, bringing an additional chill in the winter, said the Pakistan Meteorological Department, adding that light to moderate rain with thunderstorm is expected in most areas of the country.
The country's northern scenic hilly station Murree and its adjoining areas are also set to receive the season's first snowfall with larger influx of visitors from across the country, according to local reports on Monday.
Thousands of tourists, mostly domestic, head towards Murree and upwards during the winter season, said an official from local administration, adding that special arrangements have been made in the light of the expected tourists' influx in the area with machines to clear snow from the roads to facilitate motorists.
Meanwhile, schools in the country's southern Sindh Province will remain closed for winter vocations on Dec. 22-31, according to a notification of the provincial government. The vacations have been announced after keeping in view the prevailing cold and dry weather conditions in the province.
The new round of cold weather also raised demand for winter foods in Pakistan. The people have started enjoying the traditional local winter foods like chicken corn soup, Kashmiri tea, fried fish and Doodh Jalebi, etc. Temporary stalls have been set up by vendors where winter food items are being sold.
According to local media reports, due to the cold weather, demands for dry fruits has started increasing and the prices have gone up beyond the reach of low income groups in the country.
With the temperature dipped to new lows, people in various cities across the country are also facing gas and power outages. Some complained that if the cold wave continued and the outages can not be controlled, they would have to switch to burning wood for cooking food and to keep warm, according to local reports.
