The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik on Sunday said that three more spells of monsoon rains would enter Pakistan till September 10, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that Pakistan had been badly affected by climate change. “This year, the monsoon season has covered a large swathe of the country due to excessive heat,” he said, and added, “This year, the country has received 50 per cent more rainfall.”
He informed that a cloudburst was witnessed in Islamabad today.
NDMA chairman further said that there would be a complete survey of the flood-affected areas and food items would be provided to the people there. “We are in constant touch with the KP government,” he said, adding, “In the next two weeks, we will be paying attention to north Punjab, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.”
PDMA issues rain alert for Punjab
Meanwhile, issuing a rain alert for Punjab, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday that torrential rains would pound most districts of the province from today (August 17) until August 23.
It further said that under the impact of the seventh monsoon spell, there were fears of cloudburst in Rawalpindi, Galyat, Murree, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.
It further said that heavy rains had also been predicted for Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Nankana, Chiniot, Wazirabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Lodhran.
This could result in floods in nullahs and streams besides an extraordinary rise in water levels in Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers.