KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday announced a public holiday in Karachi for Wednesday after heavy rainfall caused severe disruption across the city.
The chief minister urged residents to remain indoors as more rain was expected, explaining that the holiday was declared to minimize public hardship and ensure safety.
According to an official statement from the CM House, Shah presided over an emergency meeting to review the situation. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, and Mayor Murtaza Wahab.
Officials briefed the chief minister that the city had recorded the heaviest downpour in recent history—measuring 245 millimetres within 12 hours—which left traffic in disarray. They added that several major roads had been partially cleared, while stormwater drains were working to discharge accumulated water.
Despite gradual improvements, authorities highlighted that the situation remained challenging. The chief minister reiterated his appeal for caution, asking citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, stay home where possible, and extend cooperation to the administration during the emergency.
