Pakistan Braces for Flooding as Monsoon Rains Intensify
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued impact-based weather alerts for several regions as the southwest monsoon system continues to affect the country. The National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has warned that the current spell is expected to last until 31 July 2025.
Widespread rains are forecast across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities fear flooding, landslides, and waterlogging, especially in low-lying and mountainous regions.
In Punjab, cities including Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Gujrat are expected to receive heavy rainfall. Southern districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur may also experience moderate showers, potentially reactivating torrents and nullahs. Urban flooding remains a significant concern in these areas.
Similar conditions are forecast in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Districts such as Swat, Kohistan, and Dir may be affected by thunderstorms and medium-intensity rainfall. Rivers like the Swat, Panjkora, and Kabul are likely to witness rising flows, posing risks to nearby communities, particularly in Nowshera.
Chitral Valley may also face rising water levels due to a combination of rainfall and melting glaciers. Areas such as Booni and Reshun are under watch for possible surges in River Chitral.
Meanwhile, rainfall is also expected in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan. Similarly, Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Muzaffarabad and Neelum Valley could witness landslides and flash floods. Waterlogging may affect towns like Bagh and Muzaffarabad.
In response, NDMA has asked all relevant federal and provincial departments, as well as local administrations, to stay alert, ensure drainage systems are cleared, and deploy emergency teams where needed.
