'Ravi will soon become sewerage drain': Imran's old clip resurfaces online

On January 28, 2022, then prime minister Imran Khan visited the site of the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project in Lahore and said that a planned city was being built for the first time since the creation of Islamabad.

As the Ravi River has now risen to high flood levels, with reports warning of urban inundation and possible river overflow, a clip from the former premier’s visit has resurfaced on social media.

In the clip, Imran can be heard saying, “River Ravi is shrinking and will soon become a sewerage drain.”

He said that the objective of the project was to curb the expansion of Lahore. "If Lahore continues to expand, then the water table will continue to recede," he added.

Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI, while visiting Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) project site earlier today: pic.twitter.com/101hjlukOq

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) January 28, 2022

The video is being widely shared online, merged with recent footage of the raging Ravi, with users pointing to how land reclamation and housing societies built along natural waterways are contributing to climate-driven flood disasters.

#ImranKhan about Ravi Urban Development Project #RUDA #Floods #Ravi #PTI #IK pic.twitter.com/6oEUmf9WdO

— Bilal Ghauri (@mbilalghauri) August 27, 2025

According to the latest data issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) at 12pm, the Chenab River at the Qadirabad and Khanki headworks, the Ravi at Shahdara, and the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala are in an “exceptionally high flood” condition.

At Shahdara Headworks on the Ravi, which had been facing a “very high” flood only hours earlier, the situation had escalated to “extreme flooding,” with outflows rising to over 185,000 cusecs.

The water discharge at Qadirabad was recorded at more than 800,000 cusecs, while Khanki headworks registered over 620,000 cusecs. However, the FFD noted that the flow at both points was showing a downward trend.

On the Ravi, Jassar and Balloki headworks were under a “high” flood condition. On the Chenab at Marala and the Sutlej at Suleimanki, authorities reported “medium” flooding levels.