Rain emergency: Govt declares half day in Karachi on Friday

CM Murad puts civic agencies on high alert all over province

KARACHI:

Due to rain forecasts for Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has declared Friday a half-day for all government and private offices, including educational institutions. 

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain and thunderstorms from the night of February 29, 2024, until the morning of March 2, 2024. Residents are advised to prepare for potentially heavy rainfall.

In Karachi, rain is expected to start on Friday afternoon after 2 pm, with intermittent spells that may lead to urban flooding. DG PDMA Salman Shah informed the chief minister that the city should expect between 16 to 32 mm of rainfall within a 12-hour period on March 1.

All local bodies, hospitals, the water board, Karachi Electric (KE), and cantonments have been instructed to be prepared for any situation.

The decision was made during a rain emergency meeting at CM House. The meeting was chaired by the chief minister and was attended by Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary Local Government Manzoor Shaikh, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, SMBR Zahid Abbasi, Secretary Irrigation Niaz Abbasi, MD Solid Waste Management Imtiaz Shah, Secretary Health Mansoor Abbas, COO Water Board Asadullah, Commodore Mohammad Akram, Brig Inamul Haq of 5 Corps, and others. 

Mayor Karachi and divisional commissioners participated through a video link.

Expressing concern over traffic congestion on Shahrae Faisal during the rainfall last month and the inconvenience caused by the BRT Red Line construction on University Road, Murad announced that Friday will be observed as a half-day in all government and private institutions of Karachi, including educational institutions.

He also advised citizens to stay indoors and take care of their children during this period.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab informed the meeting that about 28 points in the city are prone to rainwater accumulation. The KMC and water board have prepared plans to address such areas in case of heavy downpours.

Read Rain, thunderstorm in Sindh including Karachi predicted from Thursday

The CM directed all town chairmen to be vigilant in their respective areas, overseeing stormwater and sewerage systems. Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam was instructed to issue a directive to the police to assist the district administration in case of heavy rain.

The PDMA DG further informed the CM about providing the necessary machinery for rainwater disposal to commissioners, deputy commissioners, and local bodies. More machinery and materials would be provided as needed.

Murad also put Rescue 1122 on high alert. and directed K-Electric to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to water board pumping stations and discouraged the practice of switching off electricity during heavy rain.

In regards to northern Sindh, the provincial chief executive noted heavy rains in parts of Balochistan, raising the possibility of hill torrents causing flooding.

Secretary Irrigation Niaz Abbasi assured Manchar Lake had ample storage capacity to hold water from hill torrents. Commissioner Larkana was tasked with monitoring the situation closely.

Referring to the Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, the chief minister anticipated problems for pilgrims in case of heavy rain and directed Commissioner Hyderabad Khalid Hyder Shah to make necessary arrangements for the safety of devotees and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the Urs days.

While the PMD forecast for Karachi is of moderate rainfall with some heavy spells and thunderstorms, Murad stressed preparedness due to the ongoing havoc caused by the western disturbance in Balochistan.

For other divisions, the CM directed divisional commissioners of Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad to take necessary measures to meet the requirements of emergency.