Pakistan: Karachi faces monsoon flood threat as slow drain cleaning raises concerns
Karachi, July 23
As the monsoon season begins, concerns are mounting over Karachi's preparedness for flooding, with experts warning that sluggish progress in cleaning stormwater drains could leave the city vulnerable despite forecasts of below-normal rainfall, The Express Tribune reported.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Karachi is expected to receive rainfall between July and September, although precipitation is likely to remain below average this year.
However, the city has historically witnessed severe urban flooding even after relatively light rainfall, with as little as 15 millimetres causing widespread waterlogging, traffic disruption and business losses, The Express Tribune reported.
Environmental expert and Climate Action Centre Director Yasir Hussain said the annual drain-cleaning exercise has failed to provide a sustainable solution.
He argued that authorities should focus on long-term rainwater harvesting measures, including rooftop water storage, injection wells and small dams, while restoring natural waterways and removing encroachments to improve groundwater recharge and reduce flooding.
Regional planner Syed Nawaz-ul-Huda attributed Karachi's recurring flood crisis to decades of unplanned urban expansion, illegal settlements, encroachments, sewerage connections and indiscriminate garbage dumping that have severely weakened the city's natural drainage network.
He stressed that stronger local governance, adequate funding, regular drain maintenance and strict action against illegal dumping are essential to address the problem, The Express Tribune reported.
A report by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) identified 19 major locations that experience severe waterlogging during heavy rainfall, including Tower, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Nursery, Karsaz, Natha Khan, Airport area, Gurumandir, NIPA Chowrangi, Rashid Minhas Road, Karimabad and Liaquatabad. Several other neighbourhoods, including Surjani Town, Safoora Goth, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Korangi, Lyari and Saddar, also remain highly vulnerable during the monsoon season.
According to The Express Tribune, KMC officials said the annual drain-cleaning campaign began on June 29 and will continue until the end of September.
The civic body is cleaning 45 major stormwater drains, while town administrations are responsible for another 512 smaller drains, with authorities claiming efforts are underway to clear key blockage points before peak monsoon rainfall.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is painfully familiar. In Bangalore, we also have a "lake city" image but our drains are choked with garbage and encroachments. The article rightly points to long-term solutions like rainwater harvesting—that's exactly what we need to do across South Asia. Governments, please listen to environmental experts!
I've visited Karachi for work, and it's a great city, but the infrastructure challenges are huge. The photos of waterlogged streets there remind me of Delhi after heavy rain. Kudos to the experts for suggesting rainwater harvesting—it's practical. But talk is cheap, implementation is key. Let's hope the authorities act before it's too late.
As an Indian, I feel for the people of Karachi. We share similar challenges—unplanned urbanization, encroachments, and garbage dumping. The 19 hotspots they listed sound just like our vulnerable zones. The only way out is stricter enforcement of rules and better local governance. We need to learn from each other's failures too.
Keeping a close eye on this from North America. It's surprising that only 45 major drains are being cleaned—for a city of 20 million, that seems woefully inadequate. The expert's point about restoring natural waterways is spot-on, but it requires political will and cross-border cooperation in ideas. Best wishes to Karachi! 🇵🇰
It's heartbreaking that even normal rainfall causes such havoc due to poor planning. Our cities in India have the same problem—drains are not cleaned regularly, and there's no accountability. I hope Karachi's KMC speeds things up; people's lives
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.