The Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider, has revealed that Pakistan is facing an exceptionally severe monsoon season this year, with rainfall intensity measured at nearly 50 percent higher than normal. Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad on Saturday, he said that three additional monsoon spells are expected to hit different parts of the country before September, further increasing the risk of floods and landslides.
Highlighting the scale of destruction, the NDMA chief said that climate change has amplified the impact of seasonal rains, severely affecting multiple regions. Districts such as Buner, Bajaur, and Battagram have witnessed extensive damage, while Babusar in Gilgit-Baltistan was reported among the worst-hit areas.
He noted that the full extent of losses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is still being assessed due to communication breakdowns and difficult terrain. A cloudburst recorded in Islamabad on Saturday also reflected the growing unpredictability of extreme weather patterns.
Lieutenant General Inam Haider assured that comprehensive surveys of flood-hit areas are being conducted to assess damages and ensure targeted relief efforts. He added that emergency food supplies and other essential items would soon be delivered to affected communities.
The NDMA, with the support of the armed forces, is working to restore connectivity with cut-off villages and rescue stranded citizens. “On the prime minister’s directives, relief packages are being dispatched, and search operations for missing persons are underway,” he confirmed.
Underscoring the role of climate change in worsening the crisis, he warned that northern Punjab and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain vulnerable to more intense rains in the coming weeks. He emphasized that NDMA, in coordination with federal and provincial institutions, will continue rehabilitation and provide regular updates to minimize future losses.
According to the NDMA’s latest report, the human toll of this year’s monsoon season continues to rise. In the past 24 hours alone, 151 people lost their lives, including 144 fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among the deceased were 124 men, 16 women, and 11 children. This has pushed the nationwide death count from monsoon-related rains, floods, and landslides to 645.
