Lahore [Pakistan], August 27 (ANI): Authorities have ordered the indefinite closure of schools in flood-hit districts of Punjab province as heavy monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, ARY News reported, citing officials.
All public and private schools in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, and Pasrur will remain shut from August 27 until further notice. Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Saba Asghar Ali issued a notification stating, “To ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff amid torrential rains and the resulting flood situation, all public and private schools (Primary, Middle, High, and Higher Secondary) in District Sialkot shall remain closed on August 27, 2025. The closure will remain in effect until further review.”
The directive also suspended all on-campus academic and co-curricular activities and called for strict enforcement by concerned authorities. Residents have been advised to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and refrain from visiting flood-affected areas.
More than 24,000 people have been relocated from low-lying areas along the Indus, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, which are bracing for “high flood” conditions, Dawn reported. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a flood alert in Punjab, warning of rising waters in the upper reaches of these rivers over the next 48 hours.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad told Dawn that evacuations from vulnerable riverine areas have been underway since Saturday, as torrential rains in the catchment regions have caused low to high flooding. Authorities warned that more rainfall is expected in the coming days.
In Karachi, health professionals and environmental experts urged authorities to accelerate efforts to clear standing water and solid waste to prevent disease outbreaks. They emphasized the need for regular cleaning of stormwater drains and rainwater harvesting strategies to restore depleting groundwater levels and mitigate urban flooding risks.
“There is a significant risk of vector-borne and water-borne diseases this year, especially following the intense rains we’ve recently experienced. We must act quickly with the limited time we have before the next downpour, as stagnant water will soon become breeding sites for mosquitoes,” said Dr. Imran Sarwar, head of the emergency department at Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, according to Dawn. (ANI)
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