Forecast for flooding of low-lying areas in seven Punjab cities

Forecast for flooding of low-lying areas in seven Punjab cities.

Key points

• Khalid Hasnain Published September 6, 2026 Updated September 6, 2026 11: 31am.
• At the barrages, Jinnah recorded an inflow of 324, 900 cusecs and an outflow of 316, 600 cusecs.
• At Kotri, the inflow was recorded at 145, 000 cusecs against an outflow of 102, 900 cusecs.
• A daily report issued by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) notes the Kabul River at Nowshera had an inflow and outflow of 28, 400 cusecs.
• It notes that Tarbela reservoir is at 1, 550 feet, its maximum conservation level, with live storage of 5.580 million acre-feet (MAF).

Khalid Hasnain Published September 6, 2026 Updated September 6, 2026 11: 31am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

LAHORE: The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department on Saturday cautioned of inundation of the low-lying areas of seven Punjab cities due to feasible rainfall on Sunday (today).

Notably, the forecast for Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhang and Okara notes that heavy downpours may disrupt routine life and movement in these cities.

According to the FFD, the flow at Guddu Barrage is projected to reach the low-flood level while moderate increases in flows are additionally projected in the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers and their associated tributaries. The division has additionally cautioned of feasible urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujrat and Gujranwala and flash flooding in streams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tributaries of the Kabul River.

In practice, the FFD additionally warns of climbed flows in the major rivers and associated rainwater drains against the backdrop of the ongoing spell of the monsoon. According to the information provided by it, Tarbela reservoir is at present at its maximum conservation level while Mangla reservoir is 79% filled. The cities include Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha.

For context, the River Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma is at present at low flood level while all other major rivers are flowing in their normal flows at other gauging stations.

Meanwhile, a daily report issued by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) notes the Kabul River at Nowshera had an inflow and outflow of 28, 400 cusecs. At Khairabad Bridge, the inflow and outflow were recorded at 224, 300 cusecs. The Jhelum at Mangla recorded an inflow of 23, 900 cusecs against an outflow of 9, 000 cusecs while the Chenab at Marala had an inflow of 57, 800 cusecs and an outflow of 31, 700 cusecs.

At the barrages, Jinnah recorded an inflow of 324, 900 cusecs and an outflow of 316, 600 cusecs. While Taunsa recorded 253, 500 cusecs and 232, 600 cusecs, respectively, chashma had an inflow of 300, 200 cusecs and an outflow of 281, 300 cusecs. While Sukkur had an inflow of 121, 100 cusecs and an outflow of 68, 000 cusecs, guddu recorded an inflow of 184, 200 cusecs and an outflow of 150, 800 cusecs.

At Kotri, the inflow was recorded at 145, 000 cusecs against an outflow of 102, 900 cusecs. While Panjnad had an inflow of 26, 200 cusecs and an outflow of 12, 000 cusecs, trimmu recorded 33, 300 cusecs and 22, 200 cusecs.

It notes that Tarbela reservoir is at 1, 550 feet, its maximum conservation level, with live storage of 5.580 million acre-feet (MAF). Its minimum operating level is 1, 402 feet. Mangla reservoir stood at 1, 221.75 feet against a maximum conservation level of 1, 242 feet, with live storage of 5.711 MAF. Its minimum operating level is 1, 050 feet. Chashma reservoir was at 648.50 feet, compared with its maximum conservation level of 649 feet, with live storage of 0.285 MAF. Its minimum operating level is 638.15 feet.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2026.

Khalid Hasnain is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn. His reporting focuses on Pakistan Railways, Lahore's civic affairs, and the energy and power sector. He can be discovered on X at @KhalidHasnain10.

For now, forecast for flooding of low-lying areas in seven Punjab cities remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.