LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert in view of the ongoing monsoon spell and instructed all Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to closely monitor the rainfall situation across the province.
The Chief Minister directed the authorities to ensure the availability of WASA machinery in all districts for the timely disposal of rainwater and ordered advance measures to prevent urban flooding. She instructed the district administrations to ensure the immediate drainage of rainwater from both major and minor localities in all cities.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government was fully aware of the difficulties faced by citizens during the monsoon season and would ensure their prompt redressal. She warned that negligence or complacency in rainwater drainage operations would not be tolerated in Lahore or any other district of Punjab.
Moreover, acting on the directives of Chief Minister field teams completed the drainage of rainwater within hours in districts, cities and localities across Punjab following the monsoon rains.
The chief minister directed all district administrations and relevant departments to remain on high alert, while instructing the WASA to keep teams equipped with machinery in the field. Drainage operations were swiftly carried out in all affected districts, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin. In Gujranwala, authorities completed the drainage of a record 250 millimetres of rainwater. Major roads in different cities were also cleared of accumulated rainwater.
The chief minister said the rain situation across Punjab was being continuously monitored through Safe City cameras. She directed all commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain present in the field.
In Sialkot, rainwater was drained from Allama Iqbal Road and Kotli Behram, while drainage work on Commissioner Road and Khadim Ali Road was completed and traffic restored. Roads were also reopened after rainwater was removed from Tehsil Bazaar and Railway Road. Dewatering machinery was used to complete drainage operations on Ragh Pura Road and Paris Road, restoring normal life in the area.
The CM expressed satisfaction over the timely performance of the Sialkot administration and said drainage work had commenced immediately after the rainfall stopped and was completed in the shortest possible time. The chief minister added that rainwater had not been allowed to accumulate in low-lying areas across the province and directed authorities to continue monitoring all districts, including Sialkot.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments