Punjab has launched drone monitoring of barrages, rivers, and headworks for the first time in the province, aiming to issue early flood warnings as monsoon rains continue across the region. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said Safe City drones are being used to monitor water levels at key points and detect incoming flood waves at an early stage, describing the system as a step toward strengthening the province’s flood preparedness and its overall response to seasonal emergencies.
Chairing a review meeting on the monsoon situation, the chief minister directed all departments to deploy maximum human and mechanical resources to address urban flooding, hill torrents, and other potential flood related emergencies. She instructed power distribution companies to take immediate notice of safety hazards linked to rain, including dangling wires on utility poles, and directed authorities to enforce restrictions on swimming in rivers, dams, and barrages, along with inspecting unsafe buildings and clearing manholes, drains, and roadside pits ahead of expected rainfall.
As part of the broader response plan, Maryam Nawaz ordered timely public advisories through mosques, electronic media, and social media platforms, along with round the clock operation of district flood control rooms and live monitoring of underpasses to prevent water accumulation during heavy rain. Given the risk of urban flooding and hill torrents, she directed advance flood warnings and timely evacuation measures specifically for Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan, while also ordering precautionary evacuations in landslide prone areas of Murree and instructing the local administration to warn tourists of possible risks in the region.
The chief minister further directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, WASA, Rescue 1122, the Local Government Department, and the National Disaster Management Authority to ensure full coordination throughout the monsoon season. The introduction of drone based monitoring adds a new layer of technology to Punjab’s disaster response framework, building on the province’s earlier use of Safe City infrastructure, and reflects a broader shift toward integrating real time aerial surveillance into flood preparedness efforts as the region continues to face recurring monsoon related emergencies.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
