Met Office Predicts Extended Monsoon Rains Across Pakistan

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan is expected to see more monsoon spells from July to September, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

PMD Director Zaheer Ahmad Babar said that urban flooding due to torrential rains is anticipated during the extended monsoon season and urged disaster risk management institutions to adopt comprehensive strategies to protect human lives.

Monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate the upper and central parts of the country starting Tuesday, which would intensify on July 19. These spells will cause widespread rain across the nation, Babar added.

Zaheer highlighted that the latest advisory from PMD predicted rain/wind-thundershowers with heavy falls in various regions of Pakistan, including Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Murree, Galyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and many others, from July 18 (night) to 23, with occasional gaps.

With heavy rain expectations, Zaheer cautioned about potential urban flooding in low-lying areas of cities such as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore from July 18 (night) to 22.

Moreover, the Director warned of possible landslides in vulnerable regions like Murree, Galyat, Kashmir, GB, and hilly areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during this period, advising tourists and travellers to exercise extra caution when heading towards northern areas like Galyat, AJK, and GB.

He suggested that farmers manage their activities in accordance with the weather forecast, taking into account the potential effects of dust storms and wind storms on loose infrastructure like solar panels and electric poles.

Addressing major concerns for Pakistan, Zaheer Ahmad expressed the need to address altered patterns of river flows, melting glaciers, Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and other intense climatic events, along with reduced water storage capacities in water reservoirs caused by siltation and sedimentation. He warned that these factors would lead to deteriorating water quality, decreasing wetland areas, and an impending water crisis.