Heavy Rains and Flood Threats Across Pakistan: Alerts Issued for Punjab, KP, GB and AJK
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms across the upper regions of the country from September 15 to 19, 2025. Authorities have been warned to stay vigilant as the wet spell could bring flash floods, landslides, and damage to weak structures.
🌍 Weather Forecast
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Sept 16–19): Showers with thunderstorms expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Karak, and Waziristan.
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Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan (Sept 15–19): Heavy rain likely on Sept 16 & 18 in Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and surrounding areas. Rain also forecast for Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghizer, and Diamer.
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Punjab & Islamabad (Sept 16–19): Showers expected in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum. Additional rainfall forecast for Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Sargodha on Sept 18–19.
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Sindh & Balochistan: Mostly dry weather, with partly cloudy skies along coastal belts.
The PMD warned of windstorms, hailstorms, and lightning, which could damage fragile houses, billboards, vehicles, electric poles, and solar panels.
🌊 Flood Situation in Sindh
Sindh remains on high alert as floodwaters from Punjab flow downstream.
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Guddu Barrage: Passing 627,000 cusecs, with levels expected to rise to 650,000–700,000 cusecs.
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Sukkur Barrage: Officials hope peak flows can pass without major breaches, though vulnerable kutcha (riverine) areas are under close watch.
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Over 163,000 people have already been evacuated from flood-prone areas, with cattle relocation and medical aid operations underway.
Sindh Health & Relief departments have set up 177 mobile and fixed health sites, treating more than 84,000 patients so far.
🚧 Transport Disruptions
The Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M-5) has been partially shut due to floodwater near Jalalpur Pirwala.
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Northbound traffic diverted from Uch Sharif, Jhangra, and Jalalpur Interchange.
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Southbound traffic rerouted from Shah Shams, Sher Shah, and Shujaabad.
NHA teams are working to reinforce protective embankments with sandbags and stones.
🌾 Agriculture & Cotton Impact
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, all major cotton zones have been hit by simultaneous rains and floods.
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Severe damage reported in Bahawalnagar, while other regions remain under assessment.
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Experts warn of a virus attack on cotton crops due to excessive moisture, with recommendations for urea or boron sprays.
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Cotton trading remained limited last week, with prices stable between Rs. 15,500–16,500 per maund.
🚨 Flooding in Punjab
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Sutlej & Ravi rivers: Breaches have inundated hundreds of villages, displacing millions.
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Relief Commissioner Nabil Javaid confirmed 4.57 million people across 4,700 villages are affected.
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Controlled breaches in Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur diverted water but submerged nearby settlements.
Mangla and Tarbela dams remain nearly full, while India’s Bhakra and Pong dams are also near capacity, adding to downstream risk.
😔 Tragedy in Balochistan
In Kohlu district, four children — including three siblings — drowned in a deep rainwater-filled pit. Residents say they had repeatedly warned landowners about the danger of open soil excavation pits, but no action was taken.
👉 Advisory: The public, especially travelers and farmers, are urged to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary movement in vulnerable areas, and stay updated with official weather and flood alerts.
