As a powerful westerly weather system moved throughout the nation on Tuesday, bringing downpours, thunderstorms, and snowfall in mountainous places, substantial rainfall was recorded in some parts of Punjab, northern regions, and Balochistan.

More rain is expected in the upcoming days, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), which also warns of potential interruptions from bad weather.

Rainfall in Punjab

Numerous Punjabi cities, including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi, saw heavy rains that disrupted daily activity and turned roads into pools of water. Strong winds and intermittent precipitation were also observed in Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mianwali, and Khanewal. The PMD has predicted that rainfall will persist in these regions for the next few days, with a risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas.

Rainfall and snowfall in northern regions

Temperatures in Pakistan’s northern areas, such as Murree, Galiyat, Swat, Mansehra, and Abbottabad, dropped even further after a new round of rain and snowfall. In Dir, Chitral, Kohistan, and Shangla, heavy snowfall blanketed roads, making travel difficult. Authorities have urged tourists and locals to exercise caution as slippery roads and landslides pose risks in hilly areas.

The westerly system has also brought torrential rains to Balochistan, affecting cities like Quetta, Chaman, and Zhob. Heavy downpours in the upper areas have resulted in snowfall, while hailstorms were reported in several districts.

Power distribution companies (DISCOs) throughout Pakistan have been instructed by the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) to charge an 18 percent sales tax on electricity delivered to customers who use solar net metering.

Rejecting the former practice of net metering deductions, the FTO directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and DISCOs to make sure the tax is imposed on the gross value of power delivered in an order released on Monday.

The directive clarified that under the Sales Tax Act 1990, net metering adjustments are not recognized, and taxes must be charged on the total electricity provided by distribution companies, regardless of any surplus power fed back into the grid.

Section 235 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, which requires income tax to be withheld on the gross amount rather than the net metered value, is likewise covered by the order. The FTO argues that fiscal laws supersede regulatory regulations, overriding earlier instructions from the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

According to the FTO report, only K-Electric had been regularly collecting both sales and income tax on power bills, while 11 of the nation’s 12 DISCOs had disregarded the law’s tax requirements. The ruling comes after a K-Electric customer filed a complaint alleging discriminatory treatment, claiming that NEPRA’s 2015 framework permitted

K-Electric has applied for a power rate reduction from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

Due to changes in fuel prices, the company has requested a reduction of Rs4.95 per unit. It the application is approved, the electricity consumers in Karachi will get a relief of Rs4.94 billion.

The regulatory authority will conduct hearing on the KE application on February 26.

Earlier this month, the government reduced electricity rates by up to Rs1.23 per unit. The consumers of distribution companies will receive a benefit of Rs1.22 per unit, while K-Electric users will see a Rs1.23 cut.

The prices were reduced in wake of the monthly fuel price adjustment.