Sindh on High Alert: CM Murad Ali Shah says government fully prepared to face super flood, top priority is saving lives and securing barrages

Sindh on High Alert: CM Murad Ali Shah says government fully prepared to face super flood, top priority is saving lives and securing barrages

Karachi (Sept 03): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in an interview with another private TV channel, said that in view of the devastating floods hitting Punjab, the Sindh government and people stand in solidarity with the affected population and the Punjab government. He said that the foremost challenge and top priority is saving human lives, along with relocating livestock to safer areas and ensuring proper evacuation.

The Chief Minister clarified that the second priority is to secure the barrages and strengthen protective embankments so that river water remains within the levees and no breaches or leaks occur. He recalled that in the 2010 floods, when 1.15 million cusecs of water passed through Guddu Barrage, a breach on the right bank caused massive destruction. However, in 2015, when 750,000 cusecs of floodwater passed, it was managed without damage.

Murad Ali Shah informed that this year on August 24, around 550,000 cusecs of water flowed through Guddu Barrage and safely reached the sea without causing major losses or requiring mass evacuation. However, the situation this time is different since the incoming water is not from the Indus but from the Eastern Rivers—Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej.

He said the real danger lies in the possibility of all these rivers’ flood peaks synchronizing at the same time. “We expect this won’t happen and instead the peaks will reach Sindh in phases, reducing pressure,” he said. At present, Punjab is experiencing 160,000 cusecs at Panjnad, with the peak expected tomorrow. After that, Sindh will have two days to carry out further evacuation and preparations.

The Chief Minister said that the Sindh government has prepared for a potential “super flood” scenario of up to 900,000 cusecs. Under the supervision of the Irrigation Department, embankments are being closely monitored and a village-level database has been developed to pre-identify which villages must be evacuated under different flood levels.

He emphasized that the government’s greatest effort is focused on protecting human lives, and every possible step is being taken in this regard.

Syed Murad Ali Shah admitted that the biggest challenge in flood situations is the timely evacuation of people, but the greatest obstacle is that many are unwilling to leave their homes. He explained that evacuation plans have been prepared based on expected inflows: at 500,000–700,000 cusecs, initial evacuations are already underway; while at 700,000–900,000 cusecs or higher, large-scale evacuation will be enforced. “We have separate plans for different levels, and implementation has already begun,” he said.

He pointed out that people in katcha (riverine) areas are often reluctant to evacuate due to cultural and psychological reasons. “I myself belong to Sehwan Sharif, my entire constituency lies along the Indus, and I know that people often say: we stayed through the 1976 flood, we didn’t leave during the 2010 flood, so we won’t leave now either,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that such attitudes pose the biggest challenge for the government. “Even in 2010, which was the second-largest flood in the country’s history, many people refused to leave their homes until the last moment,” he said.

He added that once again, the Sindh government is fully prepared, but persuading communities to move to safe locations remains difficult. “The government will fulfill its responsibility, but the people too must cooperate to protect their lives and property,” he stressed.

Murad Ali Shah further said that Sindh bears the brunt of floodwaters every year due to its geographical position, as all of Pakistan’s rivers eventually pass through the province before reaching the sea. “Handling 500,000–700,000 cusecs is not new for us—we face this every year,” he noted.

He explained that as soon as river levels began rising, the Sindh government took immediate steps. Provincial ministers were deployed at barrages and river embankments, while members of the provincial assembly were directed to remain present in their constituencies to assist the people. The Irrigation Department has been placed on high alert, with monitoring along both banks of the river intensified.

“These are trials from Allah Almighty. Our preparations are complete, and we pray this time passes without major damage,” Murad Ali Shah said.

He reiterated that the Sindh government is making every effort to safeguard people and infrastructure. Expressing optimism, he said: “With Allah’s mercy and the cooperation of the people, Sindh will overcome this challenge successfully.”