Minister for Climate Change issues urban flooding warning for Karachi

ISLAMABAD, June 21: Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman has issued an urban flooding warning for Karachi and other major cities, as the country braces for a much heavier monsoon spell. Taking to Twitter, the federal minister has directed all federal and provincial authorities to take all possible precautionary measures to deal with the emergency situation due to expected monsoon rains. Sherry Rehman predicted that Pakistan will see monsoon rains till August. “Punjab and Sindh are expected to receive above-normal rainfall this year,” she said, adding: “Urban areas are likely to face the risk of torrential rains.” The minister also highlighted the grave situation in India and Bangladesh where the onset of the monsoon season has already created a state of emergency. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator warned there is a clear risk of urban flooding, particularly in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, and Islamabad. “Geographically, above-normal rain is expected on the foothills of the Himalayas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the central parts of the Punjab region,” Rehman said. She further said that there is a high probability of flood in rivers and drains during monsoon seasons, “therefore all concerned authorities are requested to take timely precautionary measures to avert any emergency situation”. -TLTP