Torrential pre-monsoon rains have unleashed devastation across Pakistan, claiming 34 lives, including 16 children, and injuring 46 others in a wave of deadly weather-related incidents, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The hardest-hit regions include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, where collapsing rooftops, landslides, and flash floods have triggered widespread tragedy and displacement. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone recorded 19 deaths and six injuries over the past 48 hours. Punjab reported 15 deaths and 40 injuries across multiple districts during the three-day downpour.
Emergency responders have launched relief and rescue operations, rushing aid and medical assistance to families impacted by the storms. In rural and hilly regions, rescue workers are battling challenging terrain and blocked roads to reach affected communities.
Officials have issued public advisories, urging residents to stay indoors, avoid flood-prone areas, and refrain from unnecessary travel as rain continues to lash several provinces. Weather forecasts warn of continued heavy showers, raising the risk of further landslides and urban flooding, particularly in low-lying districts.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, the rains brought temporary relief from an ongoing heatwave, but authorities remain on high alert, especially with concerns mounting over drainage failures and infrastructure stress in the megacity.
This latest episode of extreme weather underlines Pakistan’s mounting vulnerability to climate-driven disasters, as infrastructure and emergency systems struggle to keep pace with intensifying seasonal patterns. The government has pledged continued support to affected areas, but with the monsoon season just beginning, experts warn that preparedness and community resilience will be crucial in the weeks ahead.