Lahore: The fifth spell of monsoon rains will begin tomorrow (Sunday) across Punjab.

According to the Department of Meteorology, today the clouds ruled the horizon of Lahore due to which the temperature has dropped significantly. The minimum temperature of the city is expected to go up to 29 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature is expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius.

According to the weather forecasters, there is a 30 percent chance of rain in Lahore today, while the humidity in the air has reached 83 percent, but the wind is blowing at a speed of 26 km per hour in the city.

On the other hand, the fifth spell of monsoon rains in Punjab will start from tomorrow. The rains have been predicted in Punjab from tomorrow to July 31.

During July 29 to 31, there are chances of rain with wind and thunder in most of the districts of Southern Punjab. While monsoon is also expected in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Gujarat divisions.

On the other hand, an alert has also been issued by the Director General (DG) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to the concerned administration regarding the weather situation.

Rawalpindi: Jamat-e-Islami's (JI) sit-in at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi continues today (Saturday) for the second day due to which the traffic police announced alternative routes.

According to the details, four alternative routes have been designed by the traffic police due to the sit-in at Liaquat Bagh.

According to the traffic police, traffic on Murree Road has been diverted. An alternative route has been given at D.A.V. College Chowk Raja Bazar and traffic from Education U-turn has been diverted to Murree Road while the road leading to Saddar has been diverted from Rawal Road.

On the other hand, the Expressway, which was closed due to Jamat-e-Islami's sit-in, has been opened for traffic and the containers placed at the Faizabad Interchange have also been removed from the road and placed on the side, while the metro bus service Rawalpindi has been suspended for the second day as well and people are facing difficulties.

Yesterday in Rawalpindi, the negotiations between the local leadership of Jamat-e-Islami and the district administration were successful, after which JI got conditional permission to continue the dharna for two to three days on Murree Road.

It is also reported that JI will hold protests without disrupting the traffic block and public peace.

On the other hand, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar agreed to form a negotiation team to talk to Jamat-e-Islami.

He said that there is no justification for marching towards Islamabad after the agreement on the protest in Liaquat Bagh. The government is ready to negotiate with Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman.

Lahore: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made a telephonic contact with the Deputy Amir of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Liaquat Baloch and they discussed the sit-in demands.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the government seriously wants talks with Jamat-e-Islami.

On this, Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch said that a 50 percent discount should be given to consumers who use 500 units in electricity bills. The slab rates should be abolished in electricity bills, capacity payment and dollar payment agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) should be terminated.

Liaquat Baloch further said that the cruel burden of taxes on the poor salaried class and the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products should be withdrawn, and the petroleum development levy should also be abolished.