PM Imran says monitoring relief operations in Karachi

KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that he was personally monitoring the rescue and relief operations in the metropolis and vowed to not abandon the people of Karachi.

Heavy rains have yet again wreaked havoc in the city, leaving roads, buildings, and vehicles submerged in their wake.

In responding to the crisis, the premier said his government is "fully cognisant of the suffering of our people in the wake of the heavy rains, especially the people of Karachi".

"I am personally monitoring the relief and rescue operations and am in constant contact with Chairman NDMA and Governor Sindh for regular updates," he wrote, in a thread of messages on Twitter.

PM Imran said he has directed the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to "immediately not only rescue stranded people, but also provide emergency medical assistance, food and shelter to all those in need".

He said that the NDMA chairman has also been asked to ensure a full restoration of utilities on an emergency basis.

The premier went on to say that the government will be announcing a plan for a "permanent solution" to the problems the time and again surface in Karachi due to rains, citing the cleaning of nullahs, fixing of the sewage system and supply of water as the challenges that will be overcome.

"We will not abandon the people of Karachi in their time of crisis," he vowed.

Sindh governor briefs PM

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail said that PM Imran was monitoring the "unusual and abnormal rain situation" in the metropolis.

The governor said that he briefed PM Imran over the Sindh rain situation, adding that "Karachi needs special attention".

"This is unusual and abnormal rain situation which requires emergency response. PM is monitoring the situation and assured to take any action required," said the governor.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that since "yesterday Sindh had seen its worst monsoons in 90 years." He added that the "super monsoon torrential rains and floods" continued in the port city "unabated".

"Please keep all those in your thoughts who have already been working 24/7 to assist citizens during this record breaking unprecedented natural disaster," tweeted Bilawal.

Earlier, today the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said in its advisory that the ongoing downpour in Karachi will continue till 11pm.

A day ago, the Met Office had predicted that the monsoon rain system had weakened and it was likely that the metropolis would be provided with much-needed relief from the torrential rains.

In its new weather alert, the Met office redacted its earlier rain prediction that heavy showers in the city could last until 4pm, saying that now it would last till 11pm.

With the ongoing downpour, multiple areas of the city have been submerged and main arteries of the city have been blocked by the rainwater accumulated on roads.