LAHORE: Punjab's disaster management authority has intensified preparedness measures ahead of the fourth spell of the monsoon season, relying on real-time monitoring, digital mapping and inter-agency coordination to strengthen emergency response as another round of rainfall approaches.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert ahead of the fourth monsoon spell, forecasting 15 to 50 millimetres of rainfall in parts of the province. Although officials said the latest weather system was expected to be less intense than the previous three spells, they stressed that preparedness would remain at the highest level.

The measures underscore Punjab's emphasis on early warning and coordinated planning to reduce the impact of monsoon-related emergencies before they develop.

At the PDMA headquarters in Lahore, officials said preparations had been completed well before the arrival of the latest weather system. A centralized control room, equipped with digital monitoring systems, brings together representatives from rescue services, drainage authorities, local administrations and emergency response agencies to coordinate operations in real time.

“We have representatives from all departments stationed in the control room,” PDMA Director Hameed Ullah Malik told Pakistan TV Digital. “The screens provide live monitoring of every district, and the control room remains in constant coordination with Rescue 1122, WASA and all relevant departments.”

Officials said the authority had shifted its focus from responding to disasters after they occur to anticipating risks through technology and advance planning.

Rather than waiting for floodwaters to rise, the PDMA completed mapping of low-lying and flood-prone communities across Punjab. The exercise identified vulnerable settlements, linked them with local focal persons and pre-designated relief camps, and enabled location-specific alerts to be issued directly to residents before conditions deteriorate.

According to Malik, the digital mapping system has been integrated into the authority's operational planning, enabling rescue teams to prioritize resources and reach vulnerable communities more quickly if an emergency develops.

Officials said the authority also continued round-the-clock monitoring of district administrations through a real-time surveillance system that tracks weather conditions and response measures across the province. The live data allows the provincial control room to coordinate decisions simultaneously with multiple agencies, reducing response times during rapidly evolving weather events.

According to the latest forecast, rainfall is expected mainly in Lahore, Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and the Himalayan foothill region. Although precipitation is forecast to remain lower than during the previous three monsoon spells, officials said preparedness could not be scaled back after recent weeks demonstrated how quickly localized flooding can develop.

Malik said one of the authority's key operational concerns remained upstream river flows, particularly if India released water without prior notification.

However, he said, PDMA's monitoring systems and access to real-time hydrological data had strengthened the authority's ability to manage resources and direct emergency operations should water levels rise unexpectedly.

Punjab's disaster management authority

Punjab strengthens technology-driven monsoon preparedness ahead of fourth rain spell