Pakistan minister urges precautions as rains predicted from June 25 to 30

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman has issued a call for caution and preparedness as the Met Office has predicted rains with thunderstorms from June 25 to 30 in the upper and central regions of the country.

In a tweet on Sunday, the minister urged authorities and citizens to be cautious, warning of possible flooding and landslides due to forecasted pre-monsoon rains across the country. Rehman specifically highlighted the fear of flooding in urban areas and floods and landslides in mountainous areas in the case of heavy rains. She also instructed all concerned and local institutions to be alert, while tourists were advised to exercise caution. “Citizens are requested to stay away from vulnerable infrastructure, power poles, and rivers during strong winds and rains to avoid any untoward incident.” The government has alerted all relevant authorities to take necessary precautionary measures during the forecast period.

Rains predicted

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in its advisory that pre-monsoon rains accompanied by dust thunderstorms are expected in the upper and central parts of the country during June 25 - 30 with intermittent breaks. This weather pattern, attributed to the moist currents entering from the Arabian Sea and a westerly wave, is expected to bring relief from the prevailing heat wave conditions.

The Met Office specified the areas where rain, wind thundershowers, and heavy falls are expected. These areas include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang from the night of June 24 to June 30 with intermittent breaks. Additionally, Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Larkana in the Sindh province are expected to experience rain on June 27 and 28.

Impacts and advisories

The PMD spokesperson has alerted that “heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore on June 26 and 27.” It may also trigger landslides in vulnerable areas such as Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the hilly regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Flash flooding is also possible in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan on June 27.

Travellers, tourists, and farmers have been advised to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and well-being during the rain forecast period. Farmers have also been advised to carefully plan their agricultural activities, considering the anticipated weather patterns to minimize potential losses while ensuring the safety of their crops and livestock. The public has been recommended to stay in secure locations during dust and thunderstorms as the weather conditions pose a significant threat to vulnerable structures, including electric poles and solar panels, which are susceptible to damage.

Heatwave to subside

The anticipated pre-monsoon showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring much-needed respite from the blistering heatwave conditions that have gripped the country for the past week. Scorching temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius engulfed the majority of the South Asian country, with Nokundi in Balochistan recording a maximum temperature of 48°C on June 24. The heatwave triggered a surge in electricity demand, leading to prolonged power outages across the country. Pakistan’s current peak summertime electricity demand is approximately 28,500 megawatts (MW), and the country faces a staggering shortfall of about 8,500 MW, according to local media.