The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted partly cloudy and humid conditions for Karachi over the next 24 hours, with a chance of drizzle or light rain during the morning and night. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 31°C and 33°C, with high humidity levels of 78%. This forecast, while indicating mild weather, is accompanied by a significant warning from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) regarding potential urban flooding in the city from August 30 to September 2.
The NDMA’s alert extends beyond Karachi to several other parts of Sindh. The authority has stated that districts including Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tharparkar are expected to receive rainfall during the same period. Furthermore, Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur, and other northern Sindh districts may experience downpours between August 30 and September 1. This alert highlights the heightened risk of disruption in the region.
This warning is issued with a recent precedent in mind. A rain spell earlier this month paralysed Pakistan’s financial capital, Karachi, a coastal megacity of over 20 million people. The previous flooding resulted in at least 10 fatalities, with causes ranging from electrocution to collapsing structures, exposing the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
The situation in Karachi is part of a larger national crisis. Pakistan is enduring a brutal monsoon season, with landslides and floods triggered by torrential rains having claimed more than 800 lives since June. The repeated alerts underscore the urgent need for resilient urban infrastructure and effective disaster management protocols to protect lives and economic activity in the country’s most populous city.
