Pakistan likely to receive above-average monsoon rains

LAHORE: Pakistan is expected to receive 25% more rainfall than

average during the upcoming monsoon season, officials announced

on Tuesday. In response, Punjab—the country’s most populous

province—is implementing emergency preparedness measures to

manage urban flooding and other climate-related risks.

The alert comes amid a backdrop of increasingly severe weather

patterns in Pakistan, including heatwaves, droughts, and destructive

floods. Despite contributing less than one percent to global carbon

emissions, Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable

to climate change.

To review preparations ahead of the monsoon, Irfan Ali Kathia,

Director General of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management

Authority (PDMA), visited the Pakistan Meteorological Department

(PMD) headquarters in Lahore. During a briefing, officials confirmed

that monsoon rainfall this year is projected to be 25% above normal,

with August likely to see the heaviest downpours.

Chief Meteorologist Zahir Babar provided a comprehensive

overview of the seasonal forecast and flood prediction systems. He

emphasized the need for timely early warnings in major cities like

Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala to reduce the impact of

urban flooding.

Kathia stated that all necessary arrangements are in place to

address the anticipated flood risks. He highlighted the importance of

coordinated response efforts across all relevant departments to

handle urban flooding and sudden cloudbursts effectively.

The warning comes as a reminder of the devastating 2022 monsoon,

which left nearly 1,700 people dead and caused over $35 billion in

damages to homes, agriculture, and infrastructure, according to

government and UN estimates.

Officials also evaluated the flood early warning system for hill

torrents and reviewed real-time river monitoring operations

managed by the Flood Forecasting Division. Kathia commended the

PMD’s technical capabilities and collaborative efforts, describing the

partnership between PMD and PDMA Punjab as “excellent.”–NNI