The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday warned that Pakistan is likely to experience three more spells of monsoon rains before September 10.
NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, addressing a press conference in Islamabad, said Pakistan is facing the severe impacts of climate change. “This year, the country has received 50 percent more rainfall compared to previous years,” he noted, adding that a cloudburst was reported in Islamabad earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a rain alert for Punjab, warning of heavy downpours across most districts of the province between August 17 and 23.
According to the PDMA, under the influence of the seventh monsoon spell, cloudbursts may occur in Rawalpindi, Galyat, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal.
The authority further said that widespread heavy rains are also expected in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Wazirabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Lodhran, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
The PDMA warned that the intense rainfall could trigger flash floods in streams and nullahs, along with significant rises in water levels of the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
