Pakistan is currently facing severe flooding, with over 1.3 million people displaced and significant humanitarian and agricultural crises emerging due to the recent monsoon rains.
Overview of the Flooding
Mass Evacuations: Nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in just 48 hours from flood-hit areas in Punjab province, bringing the total number of displaced individuals to 1.3 million since the onset of the floods. The floods have submerged numerous villages, particularly in the Muzaffargarh district, and authorities are conducting one of the largest rescue operations in Punjab’s history.
Humanitarian Impact: The floods have resulted in over 400 deaths and affected approximately 1.5 million people. Thousands of homes, schools, and health facilities have been damaged, leading to urgent humanitarian needs. The UN has expressed concern over the situation and is coordinating with local authorities to provide relief
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A section of the eastern side of the M5 Motorway in Jalalpur Pirwala has been washed away by floodwaters, the Chief Police Officer (CPO) said on Friday.
Earlier, the western section of the motorway had also been swept away. The CPO said floodwaters from the River Sutlej are now flowing rapidly towards the Chenab.
Motorway police and National Highway Authority (NHA) staff are on site with machinery to control the damage. Stones are being placed in the breached sections to reduce the flow of water and protect the motorway.
Flooding has worsened in Sindh’s Dadu district, where the number of affected villages has reached 50. A powerful flood surge from Mehar tehsil slammed into the protective embankment near Sehwan in Larkana on Saturday.
The impact sent water spilling into three nearby villages and submerged connecting roads. In the riverine area of Nayo Goth, floodwater swept through homes and even a basic health centre.
Further north in Naushahro Feroze, a breach opened in the loop embankment, flooding villages near Bakhri. But Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro insisted the main embankment near Bakhri on the Indus River remained completely intact and there was no breach.
Sindh’s senior minister Sharjeel Memon said that so far 185,550 people have been moved to safe locations across the province. He added that protecting the lives, property and livestock of those affected remains the government’s top priority.
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A powerful flood surge from Guddu has reached Sukkur Barrage, where authorities reported a high flood and strong currents in the Indus River.
The floodwaters have hit riverine (katcha) areas in Kashmore and Shikarpur, while also striking protective embankments in Khairpur. Cotton and other crops in the riverine belt have been submerged.
At Sukkur, the famous Sadhu Bela temple, located midstream in the Indus River, has been closed to visitors after its steps and boating platform went underwater.
In Larkana, the rising flow at the Moria Loop Bund has inundated more villages, bringing the total number of affected settlements to 30.
Local residents have refused to move to safer areas despite the worsening conditions.
Meanwhile, malaria and skin diseases have started spreading among displaced families in the katcha areas near the Sehwan protective embankment.
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Nearly 300,000 people have been evacuated in the past 48 hours from flood-hit areas of Pakistan’s Punjab province following the latest flood alerts by India, officials have said, bringing the total number of people displaced since last month to 1.3 million.
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The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has reported varying flood levels across major rivers and barrages in the country.
According to an official statement, the Indus River is experiencing a medium-level flood at Guddu and Sukkur barrages, while a low-level flood persists at Kotri Barrage. The commission has warned that water levels at Guddu could rise to a high flood stage within the next 24 hours.
The FFC further said the Ravi River is in very high flood at Sidhnai and in medium flood at Balloki, while the Chenab River is facing medium flood at Trimmu Barrage and a very high flood at Panjnad Barrage.
The commission noted that flood levels are continuing to rise, urging authorities and residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
Pakistan Navy’s relief operation continues in flood affected areas of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan Navy has immediately deployed hovercrafts for the evacuation of people stranded in floodwaters in the districts of Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur and Shikarpur. These hovercrafts are capable of operating on land, water and in marshy areas.
Pakistan Navy has rescued and relocated 4,335 flood-affected individuals from the areas of Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur and Shikarpur to safe locations.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Navy has also established medical camps for flood victims in Swat, Buner and Shangla.
Pakistan Navy’s relief teams are also providing food supplies, medical aid and medicines to the flood-affected population.
The relief and rescue operation of Pakistan Navy is also ongoing in Kasur, Rajanpur, Dera Ismail Khan, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Sanghar and Sujawal.
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Continuous rain from Tuesday into Wednesday left parts of Karachi in chaos as swollen streams and storm drains overflowed, sending water gushing into several neighbourhoods and paralysing much of the port city.
The flooding trapped residents inside their homes, caused severe waterlogging on key thoroughfares, disrupted traffic and daily routines, and triggered extensive rescue and relief operations by the city administration.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rain under the current monsoon spell is likely to persist for another 24 hours, with the maximum temperature expected to remain between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius and humidity recorded at 92%. Winds from the southeast were blowing at a speed of about 15 kilometres per hour on Wednesday morning.
The department further stated that the monsoon system persists in the form of a depression centred 60 kilometres west of Karachi, which may turn into a low-pressure area in the coming hours, bringing more rain-laden clouds towards the city.
The rising water level in Thado Dam, resulting from continuous rain, caused flooding near the M-9 Motorway, close to Jamali Bridge, with authorities confirming that the water had reached the carriageway. The officials later clarified that the overflow was from the Lath River, not the dam itself.
Taking action on the matter, Karachi commissioner dispatched teams on the chief secretary’s directions, and the authorities broke a section of the motorway’s median wall to allow the water to pass, as directed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who also ordered immediate clearance of the road to restore traffic flow.
Sindh government spokesperson Nadir Nabeel Gabol said 30 pumps had been deployed for drainage, with more being installed. He explained that Shaheed Bhutto Road, still under construction, had been cut to give water a passage, adding that there were no cracks on the road and no cause for concern. He further said the project was being carried out by an international firm and negligence would not be tolerated.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who inspected waterlogging at Nagan Chowrangi, said rescue teams were deployed across the city and four relief centres had been set up.
He confirmed that over 200 people had already been evacuated from affected areas. Rescue 1122 reported that 15 children, one elderly man and four women had been rescued so far, with operations continuing in localities near Lyari and Malir rivers.
Several neighbourhoods — including FB Area, Shafiq Colony, Essa Nagri, Nasar Basti, Sohrab Goth, Hasan Nauman Colony, Machhar Colony, Lassi Para, and Yaar Mohammad Goth — reported water entering homes after streams overflowed, leaving residents trapped.
A screengrab taken from a video shows a neighbourhood in Saadi Town submerged in water on September 10, 2025. — Geo.tv
A screengrab taken from a video shows a neighbourhood in Saadi Town submerged in water on September 10, 2025. — Geo.tv
The mayor, after receiving reports of inundation in Saadi Town, refuted them, saying fake news was being spread on social media. However, videos showed the neighbourhood submerged in water in the morning.
Rainfall data from the PMD showed Surjani Town received the heaviest downpour at 129.6 millimetres, followed by North Karachi (72.2mm), Korangi (70.5mm), Defence Phase VII (70mm) and Gulshan-e-Hadeed (69mm). PAF Faisal Base recorded 55mm, Nazimabad 54mm, Keamari 52mm and Saadi Town 51.2mm. Gulshan-e-Maymar saw 47.9mm, Orangi Town 47.2mm, the Airport 46.7mm, M-9 Motorway 45mm, University Road 44.4mm and PAF Masroor Base 41mm. The lowest rainfall was measured at Jinnah Terminal with 29.8mm.
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Authorities in Punjab have decided to carry out a controlled breach at the Sher Shah embankment in Multan to divert rising waters of the Chenab River, as southern districts continue to reel from devastating floods that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
According to the irrigation department, a flow of over 540,000 cusecs from Trimmu is expected to reach Multan’s limits in the coming days, with water levels at Sher Shah already recorded at 400,000 cusecs.
Officials confirmed that nearby settlements had been alerted and evacuation announcements were underway.
“Riverbed areas have already been inundated, and the breach is being carried out due to a lack of further capacity to contain the water,” an irrigation official said.
City Police Officer Sadiq Ali Dogar said rail and road traffic would be suspended after the breach. “Rail traffic on the Multan–Kundian–Rawalpindi route will be halted, while Muzaffargarh Road will also be closed.
Residents in low-lying settlements must evacuate immediately to avoid a situation similar to Jalalpur Pirwala,” he warned.
PDMA sounds alarm for Multan
Director General of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia said that Multan has been under flood pressure for the last 48 hours. “The next two days will not be easy,” he said, noting that emergency teams, including 50 additional boats and five drones, had been deployed for rescue operations.
The NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre has issued rain alerts for Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan over the next 12–24 hours, warning of urban flooding in low-lying areas, river overflows, and landslides in hilly regions.
Heavy rainfall is forecast for Multan, Layyah, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan, while Sindh districts including Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar and Umerkot have also been placed on alert. In Balochistan, rain with thunderstorms is expected in Zhob, Loralai, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti and Lasbela.
Boat capsizes in Rahim Yar Khan
In Rahim Yar Khan’s Moza Noor Wala, a boat carrying flood victims capsized late Monday, leaving five people dead, according to district officials. Pakistan Army divers recovered the bodies of two women and a man, while the search continues for two others. More than 20 people were reportedly on board.
Separately, four people drowned in Jalalpur Pirwala’s Chak 86-M. Locals recovered two bodies on their own and complained no rescue boat reached the site.
Mass evacuations and relief operations
Rescue 1122 reported that 2,343 people were evacuated from Multan in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to 10,810 so far. The district administration says 350,000 people and more than 300,000 animals have been shifted in advance.
Floodwaters have already inundated 100 villages in Jalalpur Pirwala, where breaches in local embankments submerged houses. Pressure on Multan’s urban dam remains critical, with authorities working round the clock to reinforce it.
In Jhang, tent settlements for flood victims have been washed away due to continuous rains, while in Muzaffargarh, high flood levels in the Chenab have submerged hundreds of villages.
Dams at full capacity
Meanwhile, Tarbela Dam has reached 100% storage capacity at 1,550 feet, while Mangla Dam stands at 90% capacity (1,232.95 feet). Other dams including Khanpur, Rawal and Simli are also nearing full levels, raising concerns of additional flooding if heavy rains persist.
The inflows and outflows of Punjab’s major waterways recorded on Tuesday showed 609,669 cusecs at Panjnad and 543,000 cusecs at Trimmu, highlighting the immense pressure on river systems.
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Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Karachi on Sunday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warning that the downpours could trigger urban flooding in the city’s low-lying areas.
Light to heavy rain is being reporated in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir Halt, Rafa-e-Aam, Bahria Town and surrounding areas near the M9 Motorway.
According to the Met Office, rain-bearing clouds are currently present over the eastern parts of the megacity. “These clouds may spread further in the city,” it added.
“Unusual downpours” are expected in Sindh during the next 48 hours, warned the Met Office.
It added that the “depression” over India’s southwest Rajasthan and Gujarat has strengthened into a “deep depression”.
The “deep depression” is likely to enter southeastern Sindh within the next 24 hours, said the Met Office. Under the influence of the weather system, heavy rains were expected in Tharparkar, Umarkot and other cities of Sindh till September 10.
Karachi is also expected to receive intermittent heavy rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds during the period, it added.
In its warning issued on Saturday, the National Weather Forecasting Centre said that rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Sindh and South Punjab, while heavy falls are also likely at isolated places in Sindh.
“A low-pressure system is currently located over Rajasthan and is likely to move westwards. Monsoon currents are penetrating in Sindh and eastern parts of Punjab, which may likely to intensify,” it said.
It further warned that torrential rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparker, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Hyderabad and Karachi.
More rainfall in the flood-affected areas of Punjab may exacerbate the situation during the forecast period, it added.
