Mayor puts KMC on high alert as rain is forecast for Karachi

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has placed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other civic departments on high alert ahead of the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s forecast of rain in the city continuing till Sept. 16, directing officials to remain in the field and ensure prompt relief to citizens. The Mayor ordered all relevant departments and local government institutions to make comprehensive arrangements to deal with possible urban flooding, waterlogging and other rain-related emergencies, stressing that no negligence would be tolerated. Staff of the Municipal Services, Engineering and other departments will remain deployed in the field throughout the rainy spell, while machinery and equipment have been positioned at vulnerable locations to respond to emergencies. MurtazaWahab said dewatering pumps had been deployed at identified choking points and storm water drains across the city. Teams equipped with necessary machinery have also been placed at Qalandaria, Zahri House, Hub River Road and other sensitive locations. He directed officials to continuously monitor the drainage of rainwater from roads and low-lying areas to minimise inconvenience to motorists and residents. The Mayor said the KMC would work in close coordination with the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Department to ensure a coordinated response during the rains. He said the KMC had successfully managed previous rainy spells and would mobilise all available resources to protect citizens and maintain essential municipal services. Lessons from earlier experiences, he added, would be used to further improve the city’s drainage and emergency response arrangements. He also ordered the establishment of a dedicated monitoring cell to receive and promptly address public complaints during the rainy spell. The cell will monitor the situation throughout the period and ensure that reported problems are referred to the relevant teams for immediate action. He directed all officers and field staff to perform their duties with maximum vigilance. The administration would closely monitor the situation and would not tolerate negligence in providing relief to citizens. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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