The Sindh Education Department has officially announced a city-wide closure. All government and private schools and colleges in Karachi will remain shut on Thursday. This decisive action responds directly to the current rain-hit situation, aiming to ensure public safety. The notification confirming this closure was issued to all relevant institutions across the metropolis on Wednesday.
Official Notification and Minister’s Statement
Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah confirmed the decision on his Facebook account. He stated that all public and private institutions within the Karachi division would be closed. This precautionary measure is directly linked to the ongoing spell of heavy monsoon rains battering the port city. The directive leaves no ambiguity, applying to every educational institution in the area to prevent any confusion.
Rising Death Toll and Record Rainfall
The severity of the weather is underscored by a tragic rise in casualties. The death toll from recent rain-related incidents has climbed to seventeen. Intermittent downpours have relentlessly battered the city since Tuesday. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded extreme rainfall, with Gulshan-e-Hadeed receiving 178mm and University Road receiving 145mm within 24 hours.
Further Inclement Weather Forecasted
The Pakistan Meteorological Department warns of continuing adverse conditions. Strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are actively impacting southern Pakistan. Forecasts predict more showers, including isolated heavy falls, for Karachi on Thursday. This prediction raises significant concerns about fresh rounds of urban flooding and further disruption to daily life.
Precautionary Public Holiday Declared
Because of the rapidly deteriorating situation, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took preemptive action. He had earlier announced a public holiday for Karachi on Wednesday. The city was already reeling from significant rainfall and widespread disruption at that time. This extended closure highlights the government’s escalating concern over the extreme weather.
Advice for the Public
Chief Minister Shah strongly advised all citizens to remain indoors whenever possible. He emphasized that further rainfall was expected and the situation remained dangerous. The public holiday was declared specifically to spare people from unnecessary hardship and potential peril. Authorities continue to urge extreme caution until the weather system passes.