Karachi weather update: More rain expected today

KARACHI: The prevailing bout of monsoon in Karachi is expected to bring more showers on Monday and Tuesday, weather authorities said.

Pakistan Meteorological Department's chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz told Geo News that the latest monsoon spell, which caused heavy showers on Sunday, is expected to last until tomorrow (Tuesday), resulting in a total of 40-50mm rain in the metropolis.

Rain is predicted to lash Karachi after 3-4pm today, and intermittent showers are expected overnight as well, he said.

According to the official, monsoon weather is expected to continue in Karachi until September 30, and another bout of rain is predicted to enter the city in the next four or five days. 

Sudden, heavy rain chokes Karachi, flooding roads, bringing traffic to a standstill

Heavy rain in Karachi is forecasted to continue during the next 24 hours, the PMD said

Rain/wind-thunderstorm is also expected today at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Kohat, Peshawar, Bannu, Kalat, Zhob divisions and Islamabad.

Sudden, stormy rainfall flooded the streets of Karachi and brought traffic to a standstill, adding to the commuters' woes as a portion of Shahrah-e-Faisal from Nursery onwards to Karsaz was blocked for a rally organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to show solidarity with Kashmir. 

'State of Emergency must be declared'

Federal minister Ali Zaidi, in wake of the city’s situation due to continuing rain spells, said that it should be declared a state of emergency to resolve the city's issue.

Ali Zaidi said that without resolving Karachi’s issues, especially related to cleanliness, Pakistan’s economy cannot be alleviated.

The minister, who earlier went on a cleaning drive in the metropolis, said that officials pick up garbage from one spot but then new garbage is piled up in its place.

In a social media post, the minister also shared pictures of Kemari and Boat Basin area, where garbage can be seen on the coast.

"A State of Emergency must be declared in Karachi to fix this metropolis.Unless we fix this city, reviving Pakistan economically is nothing but a pipe dream." he tweeted.