Pre-monsoon rains to start tomorrow

The Metereological Department on Sunday predicted that onset of regular monsoon season is likely during the first week of July, however, pre-monsoon rains will start from Tuesday.
“Southwest monsoonal currents are likely to penetrate southern and eastern parts of the country from Sunday evening. Under the influence of southwest monsoon incursion, intermittent scattered rain-thundershowers are likely in Eastern Balochistan, Sindh coast, central and upper parts of Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and most parts of Kashmir from Tuesday to Thursday.
Gilgit-Baltistan is also likely to receive scattered rain”, Met says. Highest temperature was recorded in Sibbi, Turbat and Noorpur Thal where mercury soured up to 47 degree centigrade. Temperature recorded in other cities included Larkana and Jacobabad 46, Karachi 34, Quetta 33, Lahore and Multan 43, Islamabad 42, Murree 30, Peshawar 42, Gilgit 34 and Muzaffarabad 42 degree centigrade.
Citizens urged not to throw garbage in nullahs, drains: The citizens particularly those living in low-lying areas of the city and nullahs were urged not to throw garbage and solid waste in nullahs and drains as they create blockage in the way of flood water. District Officer Solid Waste Dr Mazhar said this while talking to APP. He said dredging work of 11 Nullahs and 454 drains, which flow into Nullah Lai, would be completed till June 30 as now it is in final stages.
He appealed to the citizens to cooperate with sanitation department and refrain from littering garbage.
He said the citizens should come forward and play their role to make the efforts of the sanitation department regarding cleanliness of nullahs a success. Filth and solid waste should only be deposited at garbage points from where it could easily be removed, he added.
To a question he said, those who are violating the orders of the city district government and throwing garbage in nullahs are being challaned and fined. More than 70 challans were issued recently to the violators. Four special teams were constituted to conduct raids and fined the violators, he added. The people’s role is essential especially in protecting low lying areas of the city from flood devastations, he said adding, solid waste, garbage, shopping bags should not be thrown in Nullahs as they create blockage in the way of flood water. Resultantly the flood water plays havoc with the properties and lives of the people, he added.
Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has claimed to have cleared silt and solid waste from main areas of Nullah Lai.
Talking to APP, Deputy Director WASA said Nullah Lai mainly in low lying areas have been cleared of silt and solid waste adding the nullah has been further widened and deepened to save the city from the flood devastations.
Gawalmandi area was especially focused during the cleanliness drive as due to heavily populated locality, a large amount of garbage and filth is thrown in the nullah which creates obstacle in the smooth flow of flood water, he said adding, the section of the nullah has been cleared. City Sadar Road, Dhoke Charg Deen, Pirwadhi, New Katrian and Dhoke Naju were also critical sections of Nullah Lai which were cleared of silt and solid waste, he informed.
The filth and all type of garbage were removed to make sure the smooth flood water flow particularly during heavy rains in upcoming monsoon season.
He said that Nullah Lai was also being widened and deepened at Aamar Chowk section and the work would be completed before the start of monsoon rains.
He said a huge amount is required to eliminate the flood danger completely from the city but, WASA is making all out efforts with limited resources to save the citizens from the looming flood threat.