Karachi airport issues safety advisory ahead of monsoon rains

Karachi's Jinnah International Airport has issued a safety advisory in view of intense rainfall and thunderstorms expected on Friday, urging all departments to remain on high alert during the upcoming monsoon spell.

The advisory outlines several precautionary measures aimed at ensuring operational safety and minimising disruptions. Bird control teams have been instructed to stay deployed at the airside, as increased insect activity during rainfall could attract birds and raise the risk of bird strikes.

Authorities have also been directed to relocate or secure light aircraft to safer locations to prevent potential damage from strong winds or heavy rain.

Efforts to ensure proper drainage have been prioritised, with orders to immediately clear any obstructions near the airport’s perimeter fence to prevent waterlogging and flooding during downpours.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued impact-based alerts warning of significant monsoon activity in several regions of Pakistan over the next 24 to 48 hours, with the potential for flooding in urban and low-lying areas.

In a statement released Thursday, the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) forecast heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and windstorms across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) between June 26 and 28.

Urban flooding is likely in several cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. Other districts at risk include Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Authorities have been advised to take preventive measures, while residents in vulnerable areas are urged to remain cautious during the forecast period.