LAHORE – The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned that Punjab is expected to receive 25% more rainfall than usual during this year’s monsoon season, urging authorities across the province to remain on high alert.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the monsoon is likely to begin from June 25 and continue through July, with heavy downpours expected particularly in the upper and central parts of the province.
The PDMA has identified several high-risk areas, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and Multan, which are prone to urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides during intense rainfall.
In a statement, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia directed all district administrations, Rescue 1122, WASA, health and irrigation departments, and livestock teams to activate emergency protocols and prepare contingency plans. He also called for improved coordination, early warning systems, and public safety campaigns.
Recent pre-monsoon activity has already brought rainfall across parts of Punjab, with Lahore airport recording 37 mm, Noorpur Thal 29 mm, and Gujranwala 28 mm. Weather forecasts suggest that more rain is expected in the coming days, particularly in Islamabad, upper Punjab, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PDMA has urged citizens to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, and stay away from electric poles, weak structures, and waterlogged areas. Special advisories have also been issued for tourists planning to visit hilly regions during the monsoon season.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has also warned of urban flooding risks in Karachi and Hyderabad from June 26 to 28, urging preparedness across Sindh.
This alert comes in the backdrop of the devastating 2022 floods, which caused widespread damage and displaced millions across Pakistan. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to avoid a repeat of such destruction.
Reported by PakTribune News Desk
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