PMD told authorities of excessive monsoon, floods in May, NA informed

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) told lawmakers on Wednesday that it had warned authorities in May about an “excessive” monsoon season likely to trigger floods, raising questions about the preparedness of disaster management agencies after more than 1,000 deaths since late June.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), torrential rains and water releases from Indian dams have killed 1,002 people and injured 1,063 nationwide since June 26. In Punjab alone, late August floods left 112 people dead, affected 4.5 million, and displaced 2.6 million residents, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to declare an economic and agricultural emergency.

Briefing the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources, PMD Director General Sahibzada Khan said his department had informed NDMA, provincial authorities, and other stakeholders on May 29 that severe flooding was expected. He added the risks had been flagged earlier in April at the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF), which predicted above-normal rainfall across the region.

Committee members expressed concern that NDMA did not convey timely warnings. Legislator Shazia Marri said parliamentarians had been told by NDMA officials in earlier briefings that there was “no threat of floods” this year, leaving communities unprepared.

NDMA representatives did not attend Wednesday’s session, though an official later said the authority had issued a flood warning in early June.

Experts noted that early warnings can only save lives if translated into local alerts, evacuation plans, and protective measures. The Federal Flood Commission added that Pakistan’s floodplain mapping, last updated in 2017, required urgent revision to improve planning and risk reduction.