Reshaped heading: Sindh's Chief Minister criticizes Karachi residents for leaving their homes during a public holiday and heavy rainfalls
In the wake of heavy rainfall, the administration and municipal staff in Karachi are working tirelessly to drain rainwater from the city. The efforts have shown some success, as eleven out of fourteen underpasses have been cleared, with the remaining three still undergoing work.
Recently, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the Nursery nullah to review the post-rain situation in Karachi. He admitted that shortcomings may exist but stressed that the government is actively working on the ground to address these issues.
The chief minister also criticised the media for not urging people to stay at their offices and schools until the roads were cleared. He urged everyone to have a sense of responsibility and follow government decisions.
The heavy rainfall that Karachi experienced resulted in over 200 millimetres of rainfall in just 12 hours, which is beyond the city's current drainage capacity. The chief minister stated that roads in Karachi cannot drain 100mm of rainwater per hour.
To mitigate urban flooding in the long term, several solutions have been proposed. These include upgrading and expanding stormwater drainage infrastructure, implementing adaptive urban planning such as zoning and safer construction, and enhancing community preparedness for climate impacts.
One example of such efforts can be seen in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), which has upgraded its stormwater drainage system to create a flood-free future in parts of Karachi by improving emergency response capacity and drainage infrastructure.
Experts also emphasise the need for adaptation measures encompassing improved drainage, zoning laws to prevent construction in flood-prone areas, and enhanced community preparedness to reduce flood vulnerabilities, responding to more intense rainfall patterns linked to climate change.
Broader urban resilience plans for Pakistani cities like Karachi focus on upgrading drainage networks, expanding public transit to reduce urban sprawl, and promoting energy-efficient buildings, integrating nature-based solutions to better handle climate pressures and heavy rains.
However, the mayor emphasized the need for long-term solutions to expand drainage capacity in Karachi. Traffic in the city is moving, but slows down where water remains on the sides of roads.
In a tragic turn of events, at least 12 people died in rain-related incidents in Karachi over the past 24 hours. The Sindh Chief Minister criticised citizens for not staying indoors during a rain spell in Karachi. A public holiday was declared in Karachi due to heavy rains, but many citizens disregarded the order.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab briefed CM Murad on drain cleaning and water disposal measures being taken by the city administration. The chief minister expressed his concern over the situation and urged everyone to cooperate with the authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the citizens.
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