Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired an emergency meeting at the CM House on Monday to review the situation in Karachi following record-breaking rains in the city.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, and Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab.
Briefing the chief minister, officials said Karachi had received the heaviest spell of the monsoon so far, with 245 millimetres of rainfall in just 12 hours. The downpour paralysed traffic across the city, leaving major arteries submerged. However, the CM was informed that key roads have now been partially cleared and water is being drained through stormwater channels, with the situation gradually improving.
Taking stock of the crisis, CM Murad Ali Shah expressed concern over the hardships faced by citizens and announced a public holiday in Karachi for today (Tuesday). He advised residents to remain indoors as more rainfall is expected, adding that the holiday was declared to minimize inconvenience and ensure public safety.
"All stormwater drains are actively discharging rainwater and the situation is moving towards improvement," officials assured the CM during the meeting.
The chief minister reiterated his government's commitment to ensuring relief for Karachiites and urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed all concerned institutions to remain on high alert in view of the ongoing heavy monsoon rains across the province. Expressing grief over the loss of precious lives during the downpour, the chief minister ordered strict monitoring of storm drains and water channels to ensure that rainwater does not accumulate in urban areas. He instructed that all necessary machinery and personnel must remain on standby to immediately drain water from inundated roads and low-lying areas. The CM specifically directed Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to ensure that all municipal machinery is fully functional and that staff remain active for rapid response.
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