ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday issued directions to all the provincial authorities for taking necessary measures to cope with the heavy rains coupled with risk of flash floods predicted by the weather experts during the next four days.
NDMA urged the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) to take necessary measures during the said period to avoid loss of life and damage to property or infrastructure.
The authority has directed all rescue and relief agencies and departments to remain ready to respond at a short notice and give early warnings and SMS alerts to communities living in proximity of water ways and hill torrents, if required.
The authority urged the relevant officials to monitor bridges, causeways and important communication infrastructure for any expected damage.
The authority also directed the officials for maintenance and placing of required relief and rescue stocks in known vulnerable area likely to be affected especially at District, Tehsil and Union Council level and maintain continuous communication with all relevant stakeholders and response agencies.
According to the week-long advisory issued by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), on Thursday, widespread rain- thundershower is expected in Balochistan with isolated heavy falls in Quetta, Zhob, Kalat, Sibbi and Naseerabad divisions.
Scattered rain-thundershower is expected in lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions, South Punjab including Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, FATA and upper Sindh including Sukkur and Larkana divisions.
Isolated rain-thundershower is likely in upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Gujranwala divisions, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Hazara and Malakand divisions and lower Sindh including Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.
On Friday, widespread rain-thundershower is expected in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sahiwal and Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Isolated heavy falls are expected in Quetta, Zhob, Kalat, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Hazara divisions and Kashmir.
Scattered rain-thundershower is likely in Sindh, south Punjab including Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan.
On Saturday, widespread rain-thundershower is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sahiwal and Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
While, scattered heavy falls are expected in Peshawar, Hazara, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Scattered rain-thundershower is expected in Balochistan while isolated rain-thundershower is likely in Sindh, South Punjab including Bahawalpur, Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions and Gilgit-Baltistan.
On Sunday, widespread rain-thundershower is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat and Mardan divisions, FATA, upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Scattered heavy falls are expected in Peshawar, Hazara, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Scattered rain-thundershower is likely in lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions.
Isolated rain-thundershower is likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat and Mardan divisions, FATA, upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Widespread rain-thundershower is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat and Mardan divisions, FATA, upper Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Scattered heavy falls are expected in Peshawar, Hazara, Mardan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions, Islamabad and Kashmir.
Rain-thundershower will be accompanied by strong gusty winds of 50-60 knots and isolated hailstorm in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. Rain-thundershower will be accompanied by dust-storm of 50-60 knots in Sindh, the met office said.
Heavy downpours may generate urban flooding in major cities and flash flooding in the vulnerable areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rawalpindi divisions and Kashmir.
The met office advised the fishermen of Balochistan carrying small boats to remain careful during next two days (Wednesday and Thursday).
