Sindh govt declares rain emergency, announces half-day in Karachi

Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, has on Thursday imposed rain emergency in the province and declared that tomorrow (Friday) will be a half-day for all government and private offices in the megacity.

On Wednesday, the Sindh Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a notice warning of the possibility of urban flooding in the province with expected heavy rainfall, directing deputy commissioners and all concerned officials to take required measures, reports Dawn.

According to the advisory issued by the Meteorological Department, rain/thunderstorms with scattered heavy rainfall is expected in northern parts of the province from Feb 29 till March 2.

“Heavy falls may generate urban flooding in low-lying areas. Fishermen of Balochistan are advised not to venture into deep sea till March 1 while those of Sindh are advised to remain careful during the forecast period,” it said.

Today, the Sindh chief minister chaired a meeting to discuss the matter, deciding to declare a rain emergency in the province and put local institutions, the administration, and hospitals on high alert, a statement issued by his spokesperson said.

The statement also said that Murad decided that tomorrow would be a half-day at all public and private offices in Karachi and urged the people to not leave their houses unnecessarily.

“After 2 pm tomorrow, three to four spells of rainfall have been predicted in different areas of Karachi,” he said.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also confirmed the same. In a post on X, he said: “Though preparations have been made, as a matter of abundant precaution, it has been decided in the meeting presided by CM that tomorrow will be a half-day for offices in Karachi division from 2 pm.

Though preparations have been made, as a matter of abundant precaution, it has been decided in meeting presided by CM that tomorrow will be a half day for offices in Karachi division from 2 PM. Citizens are requested to also avoid unnecessary movement to avoid any inconvenience https://t.co/r2sh171SMN

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 29, 2024

“Citizens are requested to also avoid unnecessary movement to avoid any inconvenience,” he said.

Meanwhile, the meeting chaired by the Sindh CM was informed by PDMA Director General Salman Shah that rainfall had been predicted in the northern areas of the province from tonight till March 2 (Saturday).

He said that rainfall was expected in the central areas of the province from March 1 (tomorrow), adding that rains were expected in the province from today.
“Rains are expected to begin in Karachi on Friday afternoon, with 13mm to 16mm expected in a 12-hour timespan,” the official informed the meeting.

Over the possibility of rainwater entering the province from the mountainous areas in Balochistan’s Jhal Magsi and Khuzdar, CM Murad directed the Larkana commissioner to make the necessary arrangements in this regard.

Meanwhile, the provincial irrigation department assured Murad that Manchhar Lake would be able to withstand the inflow of rainwater.

The Karachi mayor acknowledged that there were drainage issues after last month’s rainfall. However, he assured that these were being resolved, adding that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) had 53 vehicles with suction machines available.

PDMA’s Shah also vowed to provide the necessary machinery to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for draining rainwater, noting that Karachi’s main artery Sharea Faisal comes under water pressure during the rains.