The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has categorically rejected viral social media claims warning of the “worst cold wave and extraordinary snowfall of the century.” They called the reports baseless and misleading.
PMD Director-General Sahibzad Khan told Hum News Digital that online information is fabricated and contradicts official data. He clarified that weather conditions nationwide will remain normal in the coming days, with no indication of record-breaking cold or extreme snowfall.
The PMD chief stressed that current conditions align with typical winter patterns. He urged the public to rely only on official forecasts and credible sources. Unverified social media posts can cause unnecessary alarm.
The department also appealed to citizens not to share unconfirmed weather information. They warned that such rumours often trigger panic without any factual basis.
Maximum & Minimum Temperatures recorded in major cities on 12 January 2026.
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— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) January 12, 2026In recent days, social media posts have claimed that Pakistan would face the coldest spell in 100 years between January 16 and 25. These reports alleged snowfall in urban areas, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They described temperatures dropping to as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius. Some posts cited unnamed experts and compared the situation to January 1964.
Other claims suggested up to five inches of snowfall in Lahore, with temperatures falling to minus 4 degrees Celsius. Similar exaggerated forecasts circulated for Murree, the Galyat region, Dir, Muzaffarabad, Abbottabad, and parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Reports warned of heavy snowfall and landslides.
Posts also predicted extreme cold in Balochistan, with icy winds and temperatures plunging to minus 20 degrees Celsius in Quetta. Claims of minus 25 degrees Celsius in Ziarat were also made. The PMD has firmly dismissed all such projections.
Reiterating its position, the meteorological authority advised citizens to follow only official PMD advisories for accurate and timely weather updates. They recommended ignoring sensational claims circulating online.
