Commissioner Karachi reviews preparedness, measures ahead onset of monsoon showers

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jul, 2026) Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi on Friday directed all civic and emergency departments to expedite monsoon preparedness measures, emphasizing that the cleaning of all storm water drains must be completed before the onset of the rains.

Naqvi issued these directives during a high-level review meeting held at the Commissioner’s office to assess the city’s readiness for the expected monsoon spell, the spokesperson said.

The meeting was attended by all stakeholders, including all Deputy Commissioners, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Municipal Commissioner Abrar Jafar, Solid Waste Management board (SWMB) Managing Director Fawad Somroo, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Iqra Jannat, and Regional Director of Local Government Ramzan Pathan.

The authorities resolved to accelerate the cleaning of storm water drains across the city to prevent urban flooding.

The KMC informed the participants that it had already initiated the cleaning of 45 major drains in this June and was mandated to complete this work at the earliest. Concurrently, Town Municipal Administrations were tasked to finish the cleaning of 550 smaller drains.

Taking strict notice of frequent complaints regarding the dumping of solid waste into storm water drains, the Commissioner ordered immediate corrective action, directing Deputy Commissioners to coordinate closely with the SWMB, KMC, and TMAs to curb the practice and ensure drains remain unobstructed.

All Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been tasked with actively monitoring the drain-cleaning operations of local government bodies to ensure ground-level compliance.

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The DCs are directed to conduct immediate field inspections of ongoing projects, identify any administrative or physical bottlenecks, and provide necessary support to remove these hindrances. Deputy Commissioners would also hold localized meetings with their respective TMAs to continuously review drainage measures and monsoon preparedness.

It was resolved that K-Electric would establish a dedicated help desk within the Commissioner Karachi Control Room, operating under the direct supervision of Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Iqra Jannat to prevent electrocution incidents and ensure rapid response to citizen complaints during the rainy season.

Additionally, the PDMA, KMC, TMAs, and Cantonment Boards were directed to execute a comprehensive, coordinated plan to prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas, underpasses, and residential streets.

Special arrangements would be made to deploy de-watering pumps, heavy machinery, and dedicated staff at historically waterlogged locations that have faced recurring complaints in previous years, reaffirming the administration's commitment to minimizing disruption and ensuring public safety during the upcoming monsoon season.

Representatives from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Town Municipal Administrations (TMAs), Malir and Shah Faisal Cantonment Boards, the Police, Pakistan Rangers, Rescue 1122, Traffic Police, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC), and K-Electric were also present.