ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday warned of rains and thunderstorms in parts of the country during the three-day Eid Al-Adha holiday starting from June 17, urging citizens to exercise caution.
The authority said rains and thunderstorms were expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab from June 15 till June 19 that could be extended up to June 22.
The forecast was made in light of warmer than average temperatures across the South Asian country of more than 241 million, according to the NDMA.
“Rainfall may trigger landslides, mudslides or falling boulders potentially disrupting roads during this period in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Galiyat, Murree, Gilgit Baltistan and State of AJ&K,” it said in an advisory.
“Rainfall may cause flash flooding in local nullahs [in Balochistan]. Hill torrents may be triggered in Sulaiman and the Kirthar Range.”
Isolated rainfall and thunderstorms are expected in Punjab and Sindh provinces from June 20 till June 22.
“Hill torrents may be triggered in DG Khan and Rajanpur. Rainfall with chances of heavy falls may generate flash / urban flooding in municipalities / local nullahs / streams and river tributaries,” the NDMA said.
“Thunderstorms to increase risk of lightning strikes. Electricity / other utility services may get disrupted.”
The authority advised citizens to plan travels to picnic and tourist spots considering weather and traffic conditions.
“Avoid overcrowding picnic and tourist spots and ensure personal safety. Keep children away from nullahs / potholes / drainage lines to avoid accidents,” it said.
“Do not risk crossing any drain or road overtopping with water flow. Wait for flows to normalize and prioritize/ ensure safety.”
Earlier this week, a top UN official warned that an estimated 200,000 people in Pakistan could be affected by the upcoming monsoon season, which is expected to bring heavier rains than usual.
The United Nations, with help from local authorities, has prepared a contingency plan, with $40 million set aside to respond to any emergencies, said Mohamed Yahya, the newly appointed Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan.
However, the rains would not be as heavy as in 2022 when devastating floods killed 1,739 people, destroyed 2 million homes, and covered as much as one-third of the country at one point.
This year, the South Asian country recorded its “wettest April since 1961,” with 59.3 millimeters rainfall and at least 144 deaths in thunderstorms and house collapses, according to the authorities.
Pakistan is one of the countries in the world most vulnerable to climate change, in part because of its immense northern glaciers, which are now melting as air temperatures rise. Warmer air can also hold more moisture, intensifying the rains of the monsoon.
Pakistan authorities forecast rains and thunderstorms on Eid Al-Adha, urge caution
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Pakistan authorities forecast rains and thunderstorms on Eid Al-Adha, urge caution
- This year, Pakistan recorded its ‘wettest April since 1961,’ with 59.3mm rainfall and 144 deaths in thunderstorms and house collapses
- A top UN official this week warned that an estimated 200,000 people in Pakistan could be affected by the upcoming monsoon season
Pakistan vaccinates over 43 million children as last polio drive of 2025 enters 6th day
- Campaign running simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan, last two polio-endemic countries
- Health authorities urge parents and communities to fully cooperate with anti-polio vaccinators
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has vaccinated more than 43.8 million children in five days of its last nationwide polio campaign of 2025, health authorities said on Saturday, as the drive entered its sixth day amid renewed efforts to curb the virus.
The campaign, running from Dec. 15 to 21, targets children under the age of five and is being conducted simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) which oversees eradication efforts.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where wild poliovirus transmission has never been interrupted, keeping global eradication efforts at risk. The virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis, has no cure and can only be prevented through repeated oral vaccination.
“The last nationwide polio campaign of 2025 continues in full swing on the sixth day,” the NEOC said in a statement. “Over 43.8 million children have been vaccinated in five days so far.”
Provincial data released by the National EOC showed that around 22.7 million children had been vaccinated in Punjab province, more than 10.2 million in Sindh, approximately 6.9 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and about 2.5 million in Balochistan. In Islamabad, over 450,000 children received polio drops, while more than 274,000 were vaccinated in Gilgit-Baltistan and over 714,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“The polio campaign is being conducted simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the NEOC said. “More than 400,000 polio workers are going door to door across the country to administer vaccines.”
Pakistan has logged 30 polio cases so far in 2025, underscoring the fragility of progress against the virus. The country recorded 74 cases in 2024, a sharp rise from six cases in 2023, reflecting setbacks caused by vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and access challenges in high-risk areas.
Health officials say insecurity remains a major obstacle. Polio workers and their security escorts have repeatedly been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in parts of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan, complicating efforts to reach every child. Natural disasters, including flooding, have further disrupted vaccination campaigns in recent years.
“Parents and communities are urged to fully cooperate with polio workers,” the NEOC said, stressing that every child under the age of five must be given polio drops.
Pakistan has dramatically reduced polio prevalence since the 1990s, when annual cases exceeded 20,000. Health authorities, however, warn that without sustained access to children in underserved and conflict-affected areas, eradication will remain out of reach.
