Monsoon system to bring rain and thunderstorms across Pakistan until July 28

ISLAMABAD: A fresh monsoon system is set to affect large parts of Pakistan over the next several days, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning of rain, thunderstorms and isolated heavy falls in multiple regions from July 24 to 28.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the Met Office said a low-pressure area over south-west Rajasthan and nearby areas was driving monsoon currents into the southern and central parts of the country. Under its influence, wet weather is expected in Sindh, southern and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and northeastern Balochistan between July 24 and 27, while some areas of Azad Kashmir may continue to receive rain through July 28.

Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan in forecast zone

The PMD said Sindh was likely to receive rain-thundershowers, with a few heavy falls, in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Nosheroferoz and Thatta from the evening of July 24 to July 27, with breaks in between. For Karachi, the department said cloudy conditions and light rain were expected during the same period.

For Balochistan, the forecast said conditions would remain mostly partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with rain and thunderstorms expected in the northern and northeastern districts of Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Awaran and Khuzdar. Isolated heavy falls are also expected there.

In Punjab, the Met Office predicted rain-windstorms and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy falls, in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Khanewal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur from Friday evening through Monday. It also said Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib and Chiniot were likely to see partly cloudy to cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms from the evening of July 24 to July 26, also with intervals.

KP, GB and Azad Kashmir also likely to receive rain

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, similar conditions are forecast from Friday evening to July 27 in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu.

The PMD said Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar in Gilgit-Baltistan were expected to receive rain-windstorms and thunderstorms from July 24 to 26, with gaps. In Azad Kashmir, isolated rain-windstorms and thunderstorms are forecast in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from July 24 to 28.

Flooding and damage warnings

The weather department warned that heavy rain could lead to urban flooding in Gujranwala and Lahore on Friday and Saturday. It also said the same risk could arise from July 24 to 26 in Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad.

The PMD cautioned that windstorms and lightning could damage fragile structures. It advised tourists and travellers to be careful during the forecast period and urged farmers to plan crop activities accordingly and protect livestock. The department also asked relevant authorities to remain vigilant.

Sindh puts departments on alert

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said relevant departments had been put on high alert because of the heavy rain forecast for the province. In a post on X, he said district administrations, rescue services and emergency response teams had been kept on standby across Sindh, while machinery and pumping equipment were being sent to vulnerable locations.

Memon urged people to avoid unnecessary movement during periods of heavy rainfall.

“The safety of citizens remains our top priority,” Memon said.

The latest advisory follows an earlier PMD forecast issued last week for rain, windstorms and thunderstorms across most parts of the country from July 18 to July 25, along with a call for provincial and district administrations to take precautionary steps. On Wednesday, it emerged that at least 37 people had died in rain-related incidents linked to the ongoing monsoon spell, which also caused flash floods and landslides and damaged homes, crops, livestock and roads in KP, GB, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Lahore recorded the heaviest rainfall of the current monsoon season on Thursday, receiving 263mm at the airport and adjoining areas, flooding roads and disrupting daily life. Earlier this week, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting of the Emergency Response Committee at the National Emergencies Operations Centre to review preparedness, including provincial arrangements, relief supplies and drainage systems.