KARACHI: In light of the upcoming monsoon rains, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah convened a meeting to assess the risk of urban flooding in Karachi and other major cities in the province.
Sindh’s chief bureaucrat underscored that all relevant agencies, including the Meteorological Department and the PDMA, are working together to anticipate and manage potential stormy rains and flood-related disasters.
Shah was directed to organize a meeting involving all deputy commissioners and district disaster management authorities to ensure comprehensive preparedness. Shah instructed relevant departments to guarantee the availability of emergency equipment, machinery, dewatering pumps, and field personnel.
Acknowledging the impact of climate change, Shah pointed out that Sindh has been facing increasingly severe rain and flooding. He issued a warning about the risk of urban flooding in Karachi and other major cities due to the anticipated heavy rains.
Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani affirmed that local government representatives in Karachi would be included in rehabilitation efforts and promised prompt fund allocation to WASA in Hyderabad. Officials briefed the meeting on the preparations for dealing with the monsoon rains and potential flooding, noting that Sindh is expected to experience above-normal rainfall from July to September.
The provincial minister highlighted that “5 to 9 lakh cusecs of water could flow into the Indus River due to rain and glacier melting.” In 2022, Pakistan saw 1026 percent more rainfall than average, with Larkana experiencing 584 percent more rain than usual.
