Most parts of country brace for heavy rains

LAHORE: The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan until Aug 4.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), meanwhile, said river flows, dams and barrages across Punjab were being monitored continuously. It warned that low-level flooding was currently being recorded in the Indus River at Kalabagh and Chashma and that the prevailing weather system was likely to persist until Aug 5.

According to the FFD, a well-marked low-pressure system over southeast Raja­s­­than in India, coupled with strong monsoon currents, is expected to trigger a widespread wet spell over central and eastern Punjab as well as parts of Sindh and Balochistan. The system is likely to produce heavy to very heavy rainfall through Aug 4, significantly increasing water flows in the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Ravi and Beas — and their major tributaries.

The division said water levels in the River Chenab at Head Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad were likely to rise to the low-to-medium flood category during the forecast period. However, exceptionally high inflows could push the river to a high flood level at Head Marala.

Chenab may reach high flood level at Marala; PDMA issues fresh monsoon safety advisory

The FFD also warned of possible flash flooding in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, streams originating in Khyber Pa­­k­­tunkhwa and northern Balochistan, as well as other vulnerable catchment areas.

Urban flooding is also feared in several Punjab cities due to the forecast of intense rainfall. The areas at risk include Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Faisalabad.

The FFD further said water flows were expected to increase in tributary streams of the River Jhelum, including the Dora, Dota, Dwara, Bhimber and Halsi nullahs. Similar increases are anticipated in the Aik and Palkhu nullahs, which feed the River Chenab, as well as the Bein, Basantar, Deg and Sukki nullahs associated with the River Ravi.

Reviewing the current hydrological situation, the FFD said the River Indus was flowing at low flood levels at Kalabagh, Chashma, Guddu and Sukkur. In contrast, the Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej rivers were currently flowing below the low flood level.

The division forecast that the Indus at Sukkur would remain in the low flood category at the upstream section over the next 24 hours. It also predicted flash flooding in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, streams in KP and northern Balo­chistan, and parts of Punjab and Sindh.

For the next 24 hours, the FFD forecast widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. It also expected scattered rain and thunderstorms, accompanied by isolated heavy falls, over the upper catchments of all major rivers, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and KP.

Highest rainfall in Pindi

Meanwhile, the PDMA reported widespread rainfall across Punjab during the past 24 hours. Rawalpindi received the highest rainfall at 95 millimetres, followed by Murree (85mm), Jauharabad (56mm), Multan (37mm), Bhakkar (31mm), Narowal and Noorpur Thal (27mm each), Khanewal (21mm), Chakwal (20mm), Gujranwala (12mm), Jhang (10mm) and Sargodha (8mm).

The PDMA urged citizens to observe safety precautions during the ongoing wet spell, advising parents to keep children away from rainwater drains, low-lying areas, rivers and canals to avoid accidents.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2026