The Sindh Minister for the local government, Saeed Ghani, said the agreements were in his place to deal with the next monzón spell, since parts of Karachi received light rain on Monday.
The rains of the monsoon fall throughout the region from June to September, offering a breath of summer heat and are crucial to replenish water supplies. However, strong holes also trigger mortal floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable areas, poorly drained or densely populated. Under the influence of the currents of the Monzón, Karachi experienced a warm and humid climate on Sunday and the department of weather forecast rain with thunderstorms for today in the city.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Ghani said: “There are severe rainfall possibilities in Sindh, especially in Karachi, with urban flooding possibilities … regarding that, whatever humanly possible, what a person, government or institution can do, we have made those arrangements.”
He added that the instructions also occurred before the rain preparations and that the principal minister of Sindh had also directed the same in a meeting today.
According to the weather office, the rain from 8 in the morning in the city of Armjani was recorded in 2.4 millimeters, 1.5 mm in Gulshan-i-Maymar and Korangi and 1 mm in Faisal Airbase, while the rain rain was recorded in Gulan-ii-Hadeed, University Road, Jinnah Terminal, North Karachi, Keamari, Keamari, Nazimabad and Old Airport.
An update of the department at 6:51 pm said that rain/thundershower winds was expected moderate in Karachi and the surrounding coastal areas in the next one or three hours.
According to a notice of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the Department of Meteorology of Pakistan (PMD) has predicted generalized rain and thunderstorms with few heavy or very heavy falls moderate to isolated in the province until August 22, with occasional gaps.
The Rains are Likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Larkano, Kamber Shahdokot, Ghotki, Sukkur, Kashmore, Naushahro Feroze, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Jamshoro, Tando Muhamad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Uumerkot, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Matiari and Tharparker today.
Ghani added that they were told the local councils to mobilize their resources and make arrangements specifically for chronic problematic areas so that citizens face minimum difficulties during the rain.
He also asked the people and opposition parties to avoid criticism at a time of calamity, but to concentrate on helping people, and added: “Later you can criticize whatever it is missing, but when there is a difficulty, I think we should show solidarity.”
Last month, at least six people lost their lives in different incidents of ceiling, electrocution and drowning during the generalized rains in many Sindh districts.
Sindh CM puts local organizations, administration on maximum alert
Meanwhile, Sindh’s prime minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over an emergency meeting to supervise preparations for the rains of the monsoon that is expected to affect Karachi and other parts of the province.
A press release from his office said that CM Shah put all local agencies, the administration and traffic police on the maximum alert, and directed them to strengthen coordination between the relevant departments and organizations.
The meeting, held in CM House, attended Ghani, the mayor of Karachi, lawyer Murtaza Wahab, the chief secretary of Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, the main secretary of Prime Minister Agha Wasif, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, the local government secretary Waseem Shamshad and others.
The main minister focused on ensuring that the city’s infrastructure was ready to handle the anticipated descent, while the mayor reported it on continuous efforts to improve drainage systems in 44 Nullahs and critical asphyxiation points in Karachi, with approximately 150 drains under the control of cities that submit to cleaning to facilitate the soft flow of rainwater.
CM Shah ordered Ghani and Wahab to take all the necessary measures to minimize the interruption and guarantee the safety of citizens. Wahab told the main minister that, in addition to the drainage improvements, 120 suction vehicles of the Water Board were strategically positioned in low areas to eliminate any water accumulated quickly.
He said that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was also working closely with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to ensure additional machinery if necessary, which demonstrates a coordinated approach for disaster management.
When ordering all relevant agencies that remain attentive, the prime minister instructed local government agencies to maintain a completely mobilized presence during the rain spell. He emphasized the importance of proactive measures by the city administration and urged the traffic police to guarantee a soft traffic flow, even in case of strong water.
“The provincial government is fully prepared to handle the rains, but the constant surveillance and the rapid response of all departments are crucial,” said Sindh’s prime minister. “Our priority is to protect our citizens and minimize any potential damage caused by the monsoon.”
Residents were advised to remain informed about weather updates and take the necessary precautions to guarantee their safety during anticipated rainfall.
