National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Report.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other big cities of the country risk “widespread devastation” in heavy rains because of their “obsolete and outdated” drainage systems.

A survey conducted by the NDMA recently found that the old, creaking drainage systems of the twin cities, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta, Mardan, Nowshera and other cities face breaking down under the pressure of their growing populations.

The NDMA fears that unless the drainage systems were improved or replaced, the cities could be inundated in heavy rains.

Even the architects of the so-called modern and planned federal capital failed to lay proper drainage system in the city, according to the survey. A spell of just half an hour of heavy rain inundated most parts of the city, including parliament house and presidency, it noted.

Water accumulates under the newly-constructed flyovers and bridges after every cloudburst in the capital city due to flawed drainage system, it said.

Criticising the citizens, the survey noted that they also failed to install proper drainage systems while building new homes.

The drainage system of Rawalpindi needs improvement because the city faces vast scale inundation from Nullah Leh every year that causes loss of several lives and property worth millions of rupees. The 19-km-long Nullah starts from I. J. Principal Road and enters River Soan after 11 main drains join it at different points.