Fresh monsoon rains are expected across Pakistan from August 8 to 13, the NDMA has said, as the country continues to recover from weeks of heavy downpours that have left over 300 dead.
Since June 26, unusually intense rainfall has injured more than 700 people, triggering flash floods and raising concerns of a repeat of the 2022 disaster, which killed thousands and caused widespread destruction.
According to the NDMA, the upcoming weather system is linked to low-pressure zones in neighbouring regions, coupled with a western disturbance. Officials predict isolated rainfall in most parts of the country during the period.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, a glacial lake outburst flood from the Shisper Glacier has damaged parts of the Hassanabad Nullah in Hunza, threatening nearby homes. The force of the flood eroded protective walls along the Karakoram Highway, disrupting a vital road link to China, and damaged agricultural land.
The NDMA said GB’s Astore, Skardu, Hunza and Shighar districts, as well as Bagh, Neelum Valley and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, could experience more showers. Punjab’s major cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, are also expected to receive rainfall with short dry spells.
Punjab PDMA head Irfan Ali Kathia appealed to residents to remain cautious, especially in vulnerable areas. He advised families to keep children away from fast-flowing water and to avoid risky activities such as swimming during the rainy spell.