ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yesterday formed a high-level committee to handle potential emergencies during the upcoming monsoon season.

Chairing a review meeting to address the monsoon forecast and potential emergencies, the prime minister decided to personally supervise the response to any flood situations during the monsoon. PM Shehbaz emphasized integrating advanced monsoon information into national broadcasts, stressing the regular dissemination of weather updates to farmers. He assured full support to farmers during emergencies, emphasizing the need for immediate assistance in such situations. He instructed all relevant institutions to remain on high alert during the monsoon and directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to support all provincial governments and related agencies.

The prime minister directed that advance information about the monsoon be disseminated to people in areas at risk of any emergency during the season. He emphasized that farmers and residents located near rivers and canals should be updated daily through the media and other information sources. During the meeting, the NDMA provided a detailed briefing on the monsoon forecast and the areas at risk. The forum was informed that heavy monsoon rains are expected in the four provinces during 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. Rainfall is expected in the Potohar region and the eastern part of Punjab during the first week of July. The meeting was informed that in the second week of July, there is a possibility of heavy rains in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Faisalabad, with scattered rainfall anticipated in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions. According to the briefing, a flood situation is anticipated in the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers during the first two weeks of August. Preparations for relocation and emergency response have been completed 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.

Additionally, monsoon showers are forecasted for Tharparkar, Badin, Thatta, and Umarkot in the third week of August. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rains are expected in Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan during July. The monsoon rains in the region are expected to persist until the third week of August. During the briefing, it was mentioned that in Balochistan, heavy rains are likely in the border areas with the Sindh coastal belt during the second and fourth weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. Additionally, significant rainfall is expected in Lasbela, Armada, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Sibi, and Zhob in the third week of August.