RAWALPINDI: Divisional administration on Saturday asked five districts of Rawalpindi Division --Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum and Murree --to impose section 144 prohibiting swimming in nullahs, canals and dams during monsoon season and complete geo tagging to cover manholes in urban areas.

It asked the civic bodies of five districts to establish control rooms in their respective districts to monitor the flood like situation besides completing the development schemes before June 30 as per Punjab government’s directives. The decisions were taken at a meeting held to review arrangements to deal with monsoon at the Commissioner Office Rawalpindi with Commissioner Abdul Aamer Khattak in the chair.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema and heads of other concerned departments, while Deputy Commissioners Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal and Murree participated in the meeting through video link. The meeting reviewed in detail the arrangements made to deal with possible urban flooding, overflowing of drains and emergency situations during monsoon rains.

The commissioner directed that all districts should send a detailed demand of their needs and required resources to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) so that timely and effective response can be ensured in any emergency situation. He directed that Rescue 1122, Civil Defense should conduct regular mock exercises so that the capacity of all institutions and the emergency response system can be practically assessed.

“Flood relief camps, emergency control rooms and district emergency operation centers should be kept fully functional and the availability of health, food, clean drinking water and other basic facilities should be ensured,” he said.

Mr Khattak further said that Wasa, Municipal Corporation and other institutions concernedshould complete the geo-tagging of manholes and ensure that they are properly covered.

He directed that complete cleaning of storm drains, drainage systems, sewer lines and storm passages should be ensured and all types of encroachments and obstacles obstructing the flow of water should be removed immediately. The commissioner further said that a comprehensive strategy should be adopted to deal with the challenge of urban flooding in urban areas, while advance planning should be made for shifting of population from low-lying areas to safe places.

The administration should impose Section 144 to discourage swimming and recreational activities in small dams, canals, storm drains and fast-flowing places during the monsoon. The commissioner asked Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to complete the work of cleanliness of Leh Nullah and 11 big drains of the garrison city and remove all obstacles for the smooth flow of rain water.

He also sought report on cleanliness on weekly basis. He said that the provincial government had spent millions on the cleanliness of Leh Nullah and other big drains and it would be completed before the monsoon season. He asked Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) to clean the low lying areas and no solid waste would be present on the streets and vacant plots during the coming monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026