Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted above-average monsoon rains in southern Sindh from June to September, Business Recorder reported.

Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry president Farooq Shaikhani has announced that this significant weather event will impact most districts, including Hyderabad.

Shaikhani noted that following the previous monsoon season, four to five development projects (PC1s) to improve the area’s infrastructure were approved and incorporated into a relief package for Hyderabad.

However, due to a lack of available funding, no progress has been made in implementing these important initiatives.

Shaikhani urgently called for the release of the necessary funds to allow work to commence on these critical projects.

The president highlighted that urban flooding has been a longstanding and severe issue affecting Hyderabad. He identified the primary cause as the connection of drainage water to the outdated sewage system, which has not seen necessary upgrades for many years.

Shaikhani stressed the crucial role that open fields play in providing flood protection for urban areas. He advocated for adopting international best practices in city and town planning methodologies to better safeguard urban centers like Hyderabad from the impacts of floods.

He proposed that the valuable floodwater could be better utilized for agricultural purposes, which could in turn help bolster the country’s overall economic situation. This suggests that improving flood management and finding productive uses for floodwater could provide economic benefits beyond just disaster mitigation.

Shaikhani warned that if the Sindh government, Irrigation Department, and other relevant institutions fail to complete the critical task of cleaning and maintaining the lakes and barrages in the region, it could lead to another disastrous flooding event.

Despite the catastrophic flooding experienced in Pakistan in 2010 and 2022, Shaikhani stated that the responsible government departments have implemented no effective long-term strategy to prepare for the upcoming monsoon season properly.

He pointed out a specific issue - many of the gates at the Sukkur and Kotri barrages remain permanently closed due to the buildup of silt and sand. This has caused these important flood control structures to resemble islands more than functioning infrastructure.

In 2022, severe floods in Sindh and Balochistan displaced millions and caused billions in crop damage. Even two years later, the effects of this disaster continue to impact the regions. The business sectors in both areas were devastated, and with the 2024 monsoon season approaching, there is an urgent need for effective planning and action to prevent a repeat of such destruction.

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The president noted that investing just 25% of the funds typically spent on emergency relief into system improvements could be more effective. This proactive approach could mitigate financial losses, save lives, and allow the remaining funds to be used for ongoing maintenance.

He appealed to provincial and local officials to direct relevant institutions to expedite critical infrastructure projects. Timely completion of these efforts is essential to prevent urban flooding in Hyderabad.