K & P

Monsoon measures: Additional funds released for districts

PMD has forecasted 20% more rain this time

Sohail Khattak June 29, 2016

PMD has forecasted 20% more rain this time. PHOTO: EXPRESS

PESHAWAR: In a bid to tackle any possible emergency situation in the ongoing monsoon season, the provincial government has released additional funds for the district administrations.

Since the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted 20% more rains than usual during monsoon season, the government has set up their control rooms in all districts across the province to cope with any potential emergency situation.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune, the provincial government has taken the weather advisories shared by the Met department seriously.

“[This time] monsoon is expected to be intense with 20% more rainfall which means possible flooding in rivers,” said a government official. The government has declared sensitive for monsoon, nine districts – Shangla, Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir Chitral, Nowshera, Peshawar Charsadda and DI Khan.

Monsoon rains set to hit Pakistan next week

Forecast

PMD Regional Director for Peshawar Mushtaq Shah said flash floods are common in monsoon and they expect them this year too.

He told The Express Tribune a spell of heavy rains will start in the province from Saturday to Tuesday and will affect central K-P, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera along with southern K-P, including DI Khan, Kohat, Bannu and Karak.

“It may affect Hazara Division and lower districts of Malakand Division,” he said. “We expect two heavy downpours during the spell.” Shah added rain will make the weather pleasant during Eidul Fitr throughout the province as it is expected on Eid day in separate parts of K-P.

Money for bad times

The K-P government has released an additional Rs50 million for 13 districts, including Shangla, Chitral, Kohistan, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Nowshera, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Bannu, DI Khan and Peshawar.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Spokesperson Latifur Rehman told The Express Tribune the district administration has already had funds in their accounts to provide relief items.

“The additional funds were released for the districts so that they may not have monetary problems and can tackle possible emergency situation in time.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2016.