The monsoon season in Pakistan, which falls from July to September, is a double-edged sword. Although essential to the country’s agricultural economy, it poses significant threats.
Pakistan’s varied topography, from mountainous regions in the north to low-lying plains, makes it highly prone to flash floods and riverine flooding. It often enhances the effects of heavy rains. The country’s high mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush, receive significant monsoon rainfall, resulting in rapid snowmelt and increased runoff.
This runoff causes rivers like the Indus to swell, resulting in flash floods downstream. The steep slopes in these regions are also prone to landslides during heavy rains, which then block roads and rivers and create natural dams that can burst and cause flash floods.
Heavy rainfall and the flow of water from neighboring countries upstream can cause rivers to overflow, leading to widespread flooding in the plains. The extensive floodplains of the Indus River are frequently inundated, affecting settlements and agricultural areas. Coastal areas in Sindh and Balochistan are also experiencing heavy monsoon rains, leading to urban flooding in cities such as Karachi.
In Sindh’s Thar Desert, sporadic monsoon rains can lead to flash floods due to the lack of vegetation and poor absorption capacity of the soil. These flash floods can devastate local communities and livestock.
Climate change is contributing to more intense and unpredictable monsoon rains, increasing the risk of flooding across the country. Changing climate patterns may lead to more frequent and severe weather events, adding to the challenges posed by Pakistan’s topography.
Rapid urbanization in Pakistan poses significant threats during the monsoon season. Unplanned urban expansion has led to inadequate drainage systems that cannot cope with the increased volume of water during heavy rains. Major cities like Karachi and Lahore often face major flooding due to clogged drains and poor waste management practices. This results in frequent flooding that causes extensive damage to infrastructure and property.
The construction of buildings and roads without proper planning disrupts the natural flow of water and increases the risk of flooding. Inadequate maintenance and modernization of drainage systems increases the vulnerability of urban areas to floods.
In densely populated urban areas, the accumulation of waste in streets and drainage channels impedes the flow of water, leading to waterlogging and sanitation problems. Poor settlements and slums that lack basic amenities are particularly vulnerable, as their residents often live in precarious conditions without proper shelter or access to clean water.
