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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
K-P govt reviews monsoon preparedness
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the province's preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season and to strategize precautionary measures against potential flooding and rain-related damages. The meeting was attended by administrative secretaries, Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and other relevant officials. Commissioners from various districts participated via video link. A detailed review was conducted of areas identified as vulnerable to flooding. The meeting was informed that a comprehensive Monsoon Contingency Plan has been formulated, drawing lessons from the 2022 floods. Chief Secretary Shah emphasized the need for ongoing action against illegal constructions and encroachments near rivers and water channels. He assured that necessary funds for flood mitigation measures were being secured. In his briefing, the DG PDMA said that Rescue 1122 has been equipped with 50 de-watering pumps in flood-prone urban districts including DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Malakand (Batkhela), Swat (Mingora), Mansehra, and Abbottabad. Additionally, a de-watering unit is being established in Peshawar. The meeting also reviewed the availability of resources required by PDMA to tackle potential emergency situations.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Met office forecasts 25% above-normal monsoon rain for Pakistan this year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is likely to experience 25 percent more rainfall than average during the upcoming monsoon season, officials said on Tuesday, with the country's most populous province, Punjab, rolling out preparedness measures to address urban flooding and other climate-related emergencies. The warning comes as Pakistan continues to suffer the effects of increasingly frequent and intense weather events, including heatwaves, droughts and devastating floods. Although the country contributes less than one percent to global carbon emissions, it remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia visited the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) headquarters in Lahore to assess forecasts and coordination efforts ahead of the seasonal rains. 'This year's monsoon rainfall is expected to be 25 percent above normal levels,' officials said during a briefing. 'The heaviest rains are forecast for the month of August.' During the visit, Chief Meteorologist Zahir Babar provided a detailed overview of the seasonal outlook and flood forecasting mechanisms, while emphasizing the importance of early warnings in major cities like Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala to minimize urban flood impacts. Kathia said all necessary arrangements have been completed to manage the risk of flooding during the monsoon. He stressed that a joint response plan must be implemented by all concerned departments to deal with cloudburst events and urban flooding. Pakistan experienced catastrophic monsoon rains in 2022 that submerged large parts of the country, killing nearly 1,700 people and causing damage to homes, farmland and infrastructure exceeding $35 billion, according to government and UN estimates. Officials also reviewed the flood early warning system for hill torrents and the control room operations for real-time monitoring of river flows under the Flood Forecasting Division. Kathia praised the Meteorological Department's coordination and technical preparedness, calling the working relationship between the PMD and PDMA Punjab 'excellent.'
Arab News
5 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Rain predicted in parts of Punjab in next 24 hours as heatwave eases
ISLAMABAD: Light rain is forecast in several divisions of Pakistan's Punjab province over the next 24 hours, provincial disaster management officials said on Monday, as a prolonged heat wave begins to ease in some areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on June 10 an ongoing heatwave in several parts of the country was expected to continue well into the middle of the month, with temperatures soaring above normal, disrupting daily life and raising health concerns. However, the heat wave has begun to subside, a spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a situation report, and in the past 24 hours, Bahawalnagar recorded 8 millimeters of rain, Sahiwal 3 mm, and Toba Tek Singh up to 2 mm. Rainfall was also reported in Multan, Sialkot, Jhang, Kasur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi districts. 'Rain is predicted in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Gujranwala, D.G. Khan, and Sahiwal divisions in the next 24 hours,' the PDMA spokesperson said. Five people were injured in a roof collapse caused by rain in Kasur district in the last 24 hours, the PDMA confirmed. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia 'instructed to provide the best medical assistance to the injured' and urged residents to exercise caution during unstable weather. 'Citizens are requested to take precautionary measures in bad weather conditions,' Kathia said in the statement. 'Stay in safe places in bad weather conditions. Never go out under the open sky during thunderstorms.' Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change and has faced increasingly frequent extreme weather events in recent years, including deadly heat waves and floods. Temperatures in the upper parts of the country including parts of Punjab, Islamabad, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern regions of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan remained 5°C to 7°C above normal this past week. Temperatures in the southern Sindh, eastern Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces stayed 4°C to 6°C above normal.
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Balochistan reviews monsoon readiness
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting of the Provincial Disaster Management Commission at the Chief Minister's Secretariat to assess the province's readiness ahead of the monsoon season. During the session, officials from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) presented the Monsoon Contingency Plan, outlining emergency response strategies and resource deployment mechanisms. The chief minister approved several key administrative measures aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness. Emphasizing the need for timely action, CM Bugti called for robust inter-agency coordination and rapid response capabilities across the province. He directed PDMA to maintain complete transparency in all phases of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation operations. "All districts must be equipped with sufficient resources and trained personnel to effectively manage any crisis," he said.
Express Tribune
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Severe heatwave to persist in Pakistan until Thursday: PMD
Listen to article A persistent and severe heatwave continues to engulf large swathes of Pakistan, with temperatures soaring to alarming levels across the country. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the ongoing heatwave is expected to persist until Thursday, June 13, with temperatures in many regions remaining significantly above seasonal norms. READ: Heatwave dampens Eid recreation The PMD reports that temperatures in upper and central Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Sindh, Balochistan, and southern Punjab are ranging between 4 to 7°C above average. In response, citizens have been strongly advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, especially between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and to stay well-hydrated to reduce the risk of heatstroke. The situation is especially critical in plain areas, where temperatures are forecast to remain extremely high through Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by dusty winds in the afternoons. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Bhakkar recorded the country's highest temperature at 50°C. READ: Heat, power cuts risk Eid meat storage Other cities such as Dera Ghazi Khan and Noorpur Thal registered 49°C, while Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Layyah, and Mandi Bahauddin saw highs of 48°C. Bahawalnagar, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khanewal, Kot Addu, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot all experienced scorching temperatures reaching up to 47°C. Major urban centres including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Attock, and Sahiwal are also facing extreme heat, with forecasts predicting temperatures between 45°C and 47°C. In terms of humidity, Multan recorded 46°C with 56% relative humidity, Dera Ghazi Khan 46°C with 42%, Sargodha 47°C with 52%, and Lahore 46°C with 36%, indicating dangerous heat index levels. Relief Commissioner Punjab Nabeel Javed and PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia have issued directives to all Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to remain on high alert. Authorities have been instructed to ensure the availability of cold drinking water at public places, bus terminals, and marketplaces, and to prioritize water supply in the drought-prone Cholistan region. READ MORE: MQM-P slams KE over persistent power outages in sweltering heat Heatwave response counters have been established at all major hospitals, and arrangements have been made to ensure the availability of essential medicines. DG PDMA has urged the public to exercise extreme caution during the heatwave, particularly in protecting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Citizens are advised to avoid strenuous physical activity or outdoor work during peak hours, wear light-colored cotton clothing, and stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. In case of emergencies, citizens can contact the PDMA helpline at 1129 for immediate assistance.
