CM Sindh Criticizes Karachi Citizens for Going Out in Rain

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday criticised Karachi residents for failing to comply with government instructions to stay indoors, despite a public holiday being declared due to heavy rains that crippled the city.

The fresh spell of monsoon showers left large parts of Karachi inundated, triggering power outages and waterlogging across multiple areas. At least 12 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents within 24 hours.

During a visit to Nursery nullah to inspect drainage operations, CM Murad was briefed by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab about ongoing efforts to clear roads and drains. Addressing the media, the chief minister urged citizens to act responsibly in such conditions.

“The government announced a holiday so people would remain home, yet traffic on the roads shows otherwise,” he remarked, pointing towards heavy congestion. He said that while rainwater naturally accumulates during downpours, drainage operations begin as soon as showers subside. Acknowledging some shortcomings, he stressed that provincial and municipal teams were on the ground, working continuously.

He further criticised sections of the media for prioritising footage of waterlogged roads over communicating government advisories, adding that outlets should have discouraged unnecessary travel until roads were cleared.

Highlighting the severity of the downpour, CM Murad noted that Karachi had received over 200 millimetres of rain in just 12 hours — far beyond the city’s drainage capacity, which was designed for far lighter rainfall. Of the city’s 14 underpasses, he said, 11 had been cleared while work continued on the remaining ones.

The chief minister also linked the crisis to the broader impact of climate change, recalling that over 400 people had died in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan last week.

Mayor Wahab, speaking to Geo News, confirmed that major roads had largely been cleared, though drainage work was still underway in several areas. He acknowledged systemic flaws in Karachi’s drainage network and emphasised the need for long-term planning. “Expanding capacity requires land, but resistance from residents makes it a challenge,” he said.

He added that while traffic was moving in most areas, vehicles slowed down where water remained on the sides of roads, though the overall situation had improved compared to earlier in the day.