Disaster agency says Punjab rivers stable after monsoon rains, no immediate flood risk

Residents board a boat while other wait for Rescue 1122 boat as they evacuate from the flooded area, following monsoon rains and rising water levels of the Chenab River, in Qasim Bela village on the outskirts of Multan in Punjab province, Pakistan, September 11, 2025. (Reuters/File)
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Updated 07 October 2025
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Disaster agency says Punjab rivers stable after monsoon rains, no immediate flood risk

  • PDMA says water levels expected to rise in Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum but they remain within safe limits
  • Monsoon season since late July has killed more than 1,000 people in Pakistan, damaged homes and farmland

ISLAMABAD: River flows across Pakistan’s Punjab province remained normal on Tuesday despite rising water levels following a recent spell of monsoon rains, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said, ruling out any immediate threat of flooding.

The update came as Pakistan continues to recover from weeks of torrential rains and riverine floods that inundated large parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, damaging homes, infrastructure and farmland. The monsoon season, which began in late July, has claimed at least 1,037 lives in incidents including roof collapses, landslides and flash floods.

Punjab, the country’s agricultural heartland, experienced one of its worst floods in years after neighboring India released excess water into three major rivers, affecting millions of people across the province.

“River flows in Punjab are currently normal,” said PDMA Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathia in a statement. “While rainfall has led to an increase in water levels, there is no risk of flooding at this stage.”

According to the PDMA, the flow in the Ravi River was recorded at 23,000 cusecs at Jassar, 22,000 cusecs at Shahdara, 55,000 cusecs at Balloki and 45,000 cusecs at Sidhnai.

The Sutlej River had flows of 59,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala and 31,000 cusecs at Sulemanki, while the Chenab River recorded 31,000 cusecs at Marala, 17,000 at Khanki, 11,000 at Qadirabad and 11,000 at Trimmu.

At Panjnad, the flow stood at 30,000 cusecs.

The PDMA said water levels were expected to rise further in the next 24 hours in the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers, though all remained within safe limits.

It also reported that no water flow was observed in hill torrents across the Dera Ghazi Khan division, an area that often experiences flash flooding during heavy monsoon rains.

The statement said the PDMA’s control room continued to monitor the situation round the clock and coordinate with irrigation and district authorities to ensure timely alerts and preventive measures.


Pakistan’s cabinet approves Gwadar-Oman ferry service to boost trade, tourism

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Pakistan’s cabinet approves Gwadar-Oman ferry service to boost trade, tourism

  • In Aug., Pakistan granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting with Gulf countries
  • Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says an Omani delegation will visit Pakistan to finalize arrangements regarding the ferry service

KARACHI: Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved a ferry service to Oman from the southwestern Pakistani port of Gwadar, the country’s maritime affairs minister said on Friday, saying the move is aimed at boosting trade and tourism.

The development comes months after Pakistan granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting Pakistan with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries Iran.

Officials had hailed the move as a “historic step,” aligned with Pakistan’s National Maritime Policy, and emphasized the opportunity this license creates for boosting regional connectivity, tourism and economic activity via sea.

Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said Islamabad and Oman will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the ferry link and the service will begin soon.

“An Omani delegation will visit Pakistan to finalize arrangements,” he said in a statement shared by his ministry. “New ferry route is expected to increase trade volume and investment. Travel will be easier for Pakistani expatriates.”

Besides trade, the ferry service will promote tourism and cultural ties, according to the maritime affairs minister. It will also reduce travel costs as compared to air transport.

“New maritime corridors will make Gwadar a new hub of economic activities,” he said. “Regional countries will get access to Central Asian markets [through the ferry link].”

Pakistan is currently making efforts to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost trade and investment alongside tourism as it slowly recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

The South Asian country also plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also considering linking their coastal destinations in a bid to boost marine tourism.