PM Sharif Orders Weather Alerts for Citizens Amid Heavy Monsoon Rains in Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to enhance coordination with provinces and issue timely weather alerts to citizens via cellphone messages as heavy monsoon rains continued to cause havoc across the country.

The directive was given during a phone call with NDMA Chairperson Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, following reports of flash floods, urban inundation, and landslides triggered by days of torrential rain.

Provincial disaster authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab reported 31 deaths due to heavy rains, with 19 in KP and 12 in Punjab. The downpours also damaged homes, disrupted rail operations in Sindh, and led the meteorological department to maintain a high alert through early next week.

The PM Office stated, \"Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif instructed the NDMA chairperson to stay in close contact with provincial governments, especially in the northern regions, and provide necessary support. He also emphasized proactive communication of weather warnings to citizens via mobile phone messages.\"

NDMA issued an emergency alert warning of possible urban flooding in southern Sindh and northeastern regions over the next 48 hours. Risks were identified for areas including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, and southern Balochistan.

The public was advised to avoid low-lying areas, rivers, and unnecessary travel in at-risk regions. NDMA recommended downloading the Disaster Alert mobile application for real-time updates and guidance.

Pakistan, with a population of over 240 million, faces severe weather patterns and is among the most climate-vulnerable countries globally. In 2022, record monsoon rains and glacial melt caused deadly floods, impacting millions and resulting in significant losses.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rainfall until Tuesday.

According to the source: Arab News.