The Met Office on Tuesday predicted above average rainfall for most parts of the country, particularly for Sindh and Punjab, this monsoon season, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The department said that heavy rains, which would start in the last week of June, would result in increase in water levels in different reservoirs of the country. 

It further predicted that pre-monsoon rains would begin in the second week of June. 

The first active spell of rains would start on July 1 and last till August 15, the department forecasted. “Similarly, the weather will also remain wet from mid-August till September-end,” it added. 

The Met Office warned of flash flooding in mountainous areas of the country while urban flooding in Sindh, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

On the other hand, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting in Lahore to review the arrangements made in view of the upcoming rainy season. 

He directed the concerned officials to ensure completion of the underground water tank at the earliest. 

The meeting also discussed the proposal of getting electricity poles painted with rubber in order to prevent incidents of electrocution. 

CM Hamza directed the concerned departments to complete arrangements for the evacuation of people from the low-lying areas of Muzzafargarh, Layyah and Mianwali in view of heavy rains expected in these districts.

Commissioner Lahore, on the occasion, gave to the meeting a detailed briefing on the salient features of District Disaster Management and steps being taken to ensure the evacuation of people in the event of floods.    

Reporters: Rozeena Ali and Umar Aslam