Record shattering Karachi rains to take toll on Pakistan’s exports

The record-shattering rains in Karachi could affect the country’s exports for the month of August owing to delay in export consignments, said Advisor to Prime Minister on Trade Abdul Razak Dawood on Wednesday.

“It appears that because of the heavy rains, particularly in Karachi, our export consignments are being delayed and hence our exports for the month of August may be affected,” tweeted Dawood.

The advisor added that the exporters facing any difficulties “may please be brought to the notice of the MOC.”

The development comes after the Met Office confirmed that the 36-year record of monsoon downpour was broken after the most amount of rainfall in Karachi’s PAF Faisal Base recorded up to 345 millimeters.

The 36-year record was broken after a record 345 mm downpour in Karachi’s PAF Faisal Base which was previously recorded up to 298.4 in 1984. Moreover, the most amount of rainfall up to 272 mm hit the Masroor Base in 2007, whereas, August 2020’s downpour was recorded up to 228.5 mm so far and it is still accumulating.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has declared Rain Emergency all over Sindh on Tuesday under which leaves of government employees have been canceled and the PDMA and Relief Commissioner have been activated to start relief and rehabilitation work.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to issue a notification for the purpose and cancel leaves of all the government employees and direct them to report their respective departments.