Syed Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister of Sindh, issued a rain emergency proclamation on Thursday and announced a half-day for all public and commercial offices in Karachi tomorrow.
The Sindh Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned of urban flooding on Wednesday and instructed all responsible officials, including deputy commissioners, to take the necessary action.
In the province’s northern regions, rain and thunderstorms with a few significant downpours are predicted from February 29 to March 2, according to a weather department advisory. Beginning on March 1, similar weather is probably in store for the rest of the province.
Urban flooding may be caused by heavy falls in low-lying locations. Baloch fishermen are urged not to go out to sea till March 1st, and Sindh fishermen are advised to use caution during the forecast time.
The Sindh government announced that tomorrow will be a half-working day due to the weather prediction.
“All offices autonomous, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, and local councils in Karachi division are hereby declared to have a half working day until 14:00 hours/2pm on March 1, 2024 (Friday) due to a rain emergency, with the exception of those engaged in rain emergency duties and providing essential services,” the statement read.
The notification, a copy of which can be found on Dawn.com, also stated that private sector organizations will be subject to the directives.
The provincial government also announced that all public and private sector educational institutions’ evening shift schools will be closed tomorrow. It further stated that the decision was made with the rain emergency in mind.
Separately, Sindh government was instructed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take a “full and effective role” in preparing for potential rains in the province.
Extreme caution
The chief minister of Sindh presided over a meeting earlier in the day to discuss the circumstances at the CM House. According to a statement from his spokeswoman, CM Murad resolved to declare a rain emergency for the province and put hospitals, local institutions, and the administration on high alert at the meeting.
Additionally, according to the statement, Murad ordered that tomorrow be a “half-day” at all public and private offices in Karachi and asked everyone to stay inside their homes as much as possible.
He stated that rain was predicted for Karachi starting at 2:00 PM tomorrow. “Three to four spells of rainfall have been predicted in different parts of Karachi after 2pm tomorrow,” he stated.
Murtaza Wahab, the mayor of Karachi, affirmed the same. He wrote on X: “Although ample precautions have been taken, it has been determined in a meeting chaired by CM that tomorrow will be a half-day for offices in Karachi division starting at 2pm.
“In order to minimize any inconvenience, citizens are also asked to refrain from needless movement,” he stated.
Wahab also claimed that the pertinent authorities have made all necessary preparations in light of the rain situation in a video message. He said that majority of Karachi’s drains’ chokepoints had been addressed.
The mayor went on to say that the unanticipated March showers demonstrated the detrimental effects of climate change and global warming.
Meanwhile, PDMA Director General Salman Shah informed the meeting presided over by the chief minister of Sindh that rain was expected in the northern parts of the province from tonight until Saturday, March 2.
He stated that rain was predicted for the province starting today and that it will start to fall in the central regions of the province on March 1 (tomorrow).
The official told the meeting, “Rains are expected to begin in Karachi on Friday afternoon, with 13mm to 16mm expected in a 12-hour timespan.”
Concerning the potential for precipitation to infiltrate the province from the hilly regions of Jhal Magsi and Khuzdar in Balochistan, Chief Minister Murad instructed the Larkana commissioner to take the appropriate precautions.
Murad received assurances from the provincial irrigation department that Manchhar Lake would be able to handle the influx of rains.
The mayor of Karachi admitted that the recent rains have caused drainage problems. He said, nevertheless, that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has 53 cars equipped with suction devices, and he gave his word that these issues were being fixed.
Shah of the PDMA also promised to give the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) the equipment it needs to drain rainfall, pointing out that Sharea Faisal, Karachi’s main thoroughfare, experiences water pressure during inclement weather.
