ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s major rivers are currently flowing within normal levels, offering temporary relief from flood fears, but the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that another spell of monsoon rains is likely to affect northern parts of the country from July 11 to 13.
According to the latest Daily Flood Bulletin issued by the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), no significant increase in river flows is expected over the next 24 to 48 hours despite scattered rainfall forecast in several upper catchment areas. The department, however, advised authorities to remain alert as another weather system is expected to become active later this week.
The bulletin said scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected over the upper catchments of the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers, as well as Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Isolated rainfall is also forecast for the upper catchments of the Indus and Jhelum rivers and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Abbottabad, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Haripur, Malakand, Kohistan and Bajaur, are likely to receive rain during the next 24 hours. In Punjab, rainfall is expected in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and several adjoining districts. Parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Barkhan, Khuzdar, Kalat, Loralai and Musakhel, may also experience thunderstorms.
The Flood Forecasting Division said the current wet spell is likely to weaken over the next two days before another active monsoon system reaches the country. Between July 11 and 13, scattered rain with isolated heavy falls is expected across the upper catchments of all major rivers, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and northern Punjab. Despite the expected rainfall, the department said no major flood situation is anticipated in the country’s principal rivers.
Hydrological observations recorded at 6:00 a.m. showed that water flows at key river stations, including Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri on the Indus River, remain below low flood levels. Similar conditions were reported along the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers, indicating stable river conditions across Pakistan’s main river network.
The bulletin also reported moderate rainfall in parts of the country during the past 24 hours. Lahore received some of the highest rainfall totals, with Saggian Bridge recording 40 millimetres, followed by Shahi Qila with 39 millimetres and Misri Shah with 37 millimetres. Other rainfall was recorded in Mirkhani, Babusar, Fort Munro, Sialkot, Gujrat and Zhob.
Officials said both Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs continue to hold adequate water, with live storage standing at approximately 42.2 percent and 33.9 percent of their conservation capacities, respectively.
The PMD has advised provincial disaster management authorities, irrigation departments and other concerned agencies to continue monitoring weather developments and maintain preparedness as monsoon activity continues across the country. While no major flooding is currently forecast, authorities have urged residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to stay informed through official weather advisories, particularly ahead of the next expected spell of rainfall.
