Pakistan’s Met Department (PMD) has anticipated a new bout of heavy monsoon rains in the country from July 29 and has asked all concerned agencies to stay alert to probable weather-related catastrophes.

Upper and central sections of the country will continue to come under the influence of monsoon currents carrying moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, said the PMD. A robust weather system from the west is likely to penetrate most parts of Pakistan from August 1, resulting in intensified rainfall.

The department said rain and thunderstorms are predicted to occur intermittently in Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Tuesday night to August 5 with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.

Heavy rain with gusty winds and thunderstorms from July 29 to August 4 are also expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat and other parts of Punjab.

Rainfall is forecast in southern Punjab encompassing Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur from July 31 to August 3.

Most of the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are anticipated to receive rain, thunderstorm with isolated heavy precipitation from July 29 to August 5. Gilgit-Baltistan is projected to receive moderate to heavy rains from Tuesday evening to August 6.

The PMD also predicted rain with heavy rains at isolated areas in eastern and southern Balochistan from the evening of July 31 to August 3. Several districts of Sindh are likely to receive thunderstorm and rain from the evening of July 31 to August 2.

The weather agency had predicted urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad between July 30 and August 4.

Low-lying districts of Sindh include Nawabshah, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan and Tando Allahyar are all expected to be inundated.

The PMD also cautioned about landslides in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir from July 30 to August 5. It also warned of flash floods in hill torrents in Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan.

The government warned of damage to flimsy dwellings, solar panels, power poles and billboards caused by strong winds, heavy rain and lightning.

The PMD recommended people, visitors and travellers to avoid needless travel during the poor weather and follow preventive measures. Farmers have been advised to prepare agricultural activities as per the forecast while livestock owners have been asked to guarantee safety of their animals.

All concerned authorities have been advised to remain alert and take preventive steps so as to effectively respond to any emergency situation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has advised all the appropriate institutions to stay vigilant to handle any emergency situation that may arise due to the ongoing monsoon.

He made the remarks while chairing a review meeting on the ongoing monsoon rains in the country and the consequent flood scenario.

He asked for continuous engagement with the NDMA, PDMA and provincial administrations. NDMA shall inform all federal and provincial entities on the monsoon situation and expected rains timely. The Federal Minister for Planning will be Chairman of the Flood Committee which will meet daily to examine the situation and decide the course of action. The early warning system on glacial lake outburst floods and Glacial floods in the northern areas must remain fully operational.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said in his speech that Pakistan’s contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases is low but Pakistan is being badly affected by the harmful impacts of climate change. The administration is working fast on long, medium and short term actions in view of the harmful effects of climate change. NDMA shall ensure that with collaboration of all institutions, loss of life and property is prevented during the ongoing spell of monsoon rains.

Chief Secretaries of all four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir briefed the meeting about recent monsoon rains, damages caused and rescue and relief operations.

The conference was informed that NDMA is extending all available support and resources to the provincial governments and institutions in connection with the flood situation due to the monsoon in the northern portions of the nation and the present extreme heatwave in Sindh and Balochistan. A major period of monsoon rainfall is forecast in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and southern Sindh in the next two days. Also, a strong stretch of monsoon rainfall is also forecast across the country from the second week of September.

The Prime Minister has directed the Flood Committee to hold regular meetings where all concerned institutions are closely monitoring the present situation, working out a detailed plan of action for rescue and relief and rehabilitation measures and ensuring its implementation.

The gathering was also informed that till now, the current rainy spell has claimed 110 lives while 360 people have been hurt, 796 dwellings damaged and 376 cattle perished.

The meeting was told that the rate of melting of glaciers in the northern portions of Pakistan had risen because of the ongoing El-Niño phenomena at the global level, which posed a risk of glacial lake outburst floods and glacial floods in the month ahead. We’re working to identify possibly vulnerable sites and taking all precautions possible.”

Immediate measures have been made to mitigate the urban flooding situation in central Punjab including Lahore, it was told. In some regions, agricultural land is under water due to floodwaters in seasonal nullahs and drainage work is underway. The flood situation in Dera Ghazi Khan and nearby areas is under control at the moment.

The gathering was also updated by the NHA on the road closures due to landslides and their rehabilitation. The meeting was apprised that prompt steps have cleared traffic obstructions at 106 places.

The group was told that the Ministry of IT had activated the National Emergency Telecommunication Center. In any emergency circumstance, a call for aid from any mobile phone activates Rescue 1122 automatically and it reaches the spot for rescue and relief operations.

During the monsoon, 700 spots across the country have been found to store rainwater, so that this water may be used for agriculture during the dry season. Briefing The Prime Minister appreciated NDMA, PDMAs, provincial governments and all relevant organizations for their advance intelligence, preparations and rescue and relief operations during the recent monsoon.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Dr. Musadiq Malik, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Engineer Ameer Muqam, Ataullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Mian Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and other relevant senior officials.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of benefitting from alleged rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, demanding a judicial probe into reported polling-day incidents.

Addressing a PPP workers convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal thanked the voters in Mirpur for voting for his party and noted that the PPP had earned a majority of votes in various constituencies. Now it’s up to the party to preserve the popular mandate, he said.

According to unofficial and tentative results of first phase of AJK Legislative Assembly elections, PML-N won nine out of 13 constituencies in Mirpur while PPP got four seats.

Bilawal questioned the fairness of the voting process and stated the results did not reflect the public’s aspirations in certain areas. He questioned PPP leader Ch Muhammad Yasin how the senior politician could lose in his own village despite having considerable local backing.

Bilawal said the incidents at polling stations have marred the election process and said that attacks were reported at roughly 30 polling stations despite security precautions. “If it was isolated incidents it would be one thing,” he said, “but when the volume of what’s been reported is so great it raises serious questions.”

The PPP leader stated further that the phased elections had created chances for electoral manipulation. He said the acts were designed to affect the outcome of the polls, although electoral authorities have not validated such claims.

Bilawal remarked that the national institutions should focus on the national interest of Pakistan instead of the benefit of any political party, criticising the approach of the federal government. He also raised worry over internet shutdowns during the election time, saying such tactics left an adverse picture about democratic procedures in Azad Kashmir.

“Election irregularities are nothing new. Political issues in Azad Kashmir should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means,” Bilawal stated. He claimed political discourse may have saved violence and loss of life, referring to prior instability in the area.

Bilawal requested free, fair and transparent elections and also demanded constitution of an impartial inquiry body to probe the reported irregularities during the electoral process.

He also attacked a boycott effort and accused the political opponents of misleading their own leaders. Bilawal appealed on people to participate in the democratic process by voting irrespective of the political party they belonged to.

PPP chairman said he would preserve the party’s electoral mandate and stated that the elections to be held in Muzaffarabad on August 2 would be held without permitting any attempt to influence the public’s vote.