ISLAMABAD: The top administrative officials in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, convened a meeting on Sunday to address the potential impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, a powerful weather system looming over the Arabian Sea that could affect the coastal areas of the country.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the cyclone is projected to pass between Keti Bandar in Pakistan’s Sindh province and the Indian Gujarat coast on the afternoon of June 15 as a “Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.”
The meeting, presided over by Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon, concluded that the likelihood of a direct hit on the Karachi coast remained low, although the city was still likely to encounter strong winds and heavy to moderate rainfall.
“To mitigate potential dangers, the process of evacuating vulnerable buildings and removing billboards has commenced across the city,” said an official statement circulated after the meeting. “All deputy commissioners have been instructed to expedite the evacuation process and complete it by tomorrow.”
The meeting instructed the relevant institutions to work together in a coordinated manner to ensure preparedness and response measures.
The administrative officials agreed to launch an awareness campaign to educate the city’s residents about the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks during adverse weather conditions. They also emphasized strict enforcement of bans on fishing, boating, swimming, and bathing in the sea until the cyclone threat subsided.
During the meeting, representatives from various departments gave briefings on preventive measures to deal with the situation. A K-Electric team spoke at length about how to avoid electrocution during bad weather and rain, while specifying alternative arrangements for uninterrupted power supply to the city.
Recognizing the significance of swift relief operations in emergency situations, the meeting highlighted the need for strong coordination between local administration officials and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Additionally, local hospitals were put on high alert to ensure their readiness in case of any emergencies arising from the cyclone.
The PMD warned of gusty winds and “extremely heavy” rain-thunderstorms in coastal areas of Pakistan on Sunday.
Previously, Pakistani officials believed that the bad weather system over the Arabian Sea had veered in the direction of Oman. However, it changed course and continued to gain intensity.
The PMD has said that the situation remains rough around the weather system in the sea, with waves reaching as high as 40 feet.
