https://arab.news/9gsgr
- Pakistan is bracing for heavy rains as the monsoon season began this week
- Floods in 2022 killed over 1,700 people, causes $30 billion in economic losses
ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority has launched the ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app to ensure “effective community engagement and timely risk communication” as the South Asian nation braces for heavy downpours this monsoon season, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects in the world. Unusually heavy rains in June 2022 triggered flash floods in many parts of the country, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people.
Last week, the NDMA warned of heavy rains in the Sindh and Punjab provinces, which it said could face an “emergency” situation.
“App will generate alerts and update guidance for all organizations and individual responders in national and provincial languages with audio and video formats,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“Alerts will enable the people and responders to promptly implement the disaster management plans keeping them ahead of crises before they strike. Geo tagged alerts will outline likely impacts and suggest actions to be taken at individual and community level.”
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a high-level committee to handle potential emergencies during monsoon rains, which started this week. The NDMA briefed the prime minister that all four provinces were expected to receive heavy rains in the first and second weeks of July.
“The forum was informed that this year’s monsoon rains in Pakistan will move from the southeast to the north,” APP said. “Rainfall is expected in the Potohar region and the eastern part of Punjab during the first week of July.”
In Punjab, heavy rains are expected in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Faisalabad, and scattered rainfall anticipated in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions in the second week of July, the NDMA said.
A flood-like situation is expected in the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers during the first two weeks of August, the NDMA said, adding that it had finalized preparations for relocation and emergency response in the areas surrounding these rivers.
“In Sindh, Karachi, Mirpur Khas, Nawabshah, Sukkur, and Hyderabad are expected to experience heavy rains in the second and fourth weeks of July,” state-run APP news agency said on Tuesday. “Additionally, monsoon showers are forecasted for Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, and Umarkot in the third week of August.”
Heavy rains are expected in Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province during July. Monsoon rains in the province are expected to persist until the third week of August.
Heavy rains have also been forecast in Balochistan’s border areas located alongside Sindh’s coastal belt during the second and fourth weeks of July, and first two weeks of August, according to the NDMA.
“Additionally, significant rainfall is expected in Lasbela, Armada, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Sibi, and Zhob in the third week of August,” APP reported.