KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the immediate restoration of a 150-year-old banyan tree at Qasr-e-Naz, which was uprooted during recent heavy rains and strong winds.
According to the CM Office, the provincial secretary of forests has been asked to begin restoration work without delay. Chief Conservator Javed Mahar and his team will supervise the process.
CM Shah said that in the era of climate change, every plant carries great importance. He described the banyan tree as the “Tree of Life.”
He recalled that in 2021, the forest department had restored another historic tree that had fallen inside the Sindh High Court premises during heavy rains.
The chief minister said the provincial government is committed to preserving and reviving old trees to protect the environment and promote sustainability.
Meanwhile, three children were among four more people killed in rain-related incidents in Karachi on Wednesday evening, raising the death toll to 14 as heavy rainfall hit the city for a second consecutive day.
The downpour severely strained Karachi’s fragile infrastructure. Stormwater drains and sewers overflowed, while industrial operations were disrupted across the city.
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Many areas faced long power and internet outages that continued late into Wednesday, further adding to the hardships of citizens. Due to the worsening situation, the provincial government declared a public holiday in the city today.
According to Edhi Foundation, two unidentified children drowned in the Lyari River in Liaquatabad’s C-1 Area and near Al-Asif Square in Sohrab Goth. Rescue-1122 teams carried out search operations until nightfall but had to stop due to darkness.
In another incident, a young boy drowned in a ditch filled with rainwater off the Northern Bypass, Gulshan-i-Maymar police said. His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that the body of an unidentified man in his early 60s, who drowned, was also brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Separately, two brothers died of electrocution in Shah Faisal Colony on Tuesday evening. According to police, one of them, Murad Sultan, 21, was electrocuted by an underground wire near Jamia Masjid Farooqia. His younger brother, Siraj Sultan, 12, tried to save him but also received a fatal shock.
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Rainfall was reported in Saddar, Malir, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, I.I. Chundrigar, Kala Pull, and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College in the afternoon, followed by another spell in the evening, causing fresh power outages in several areas.
By 8pm, Orangi Town had recorded the highest rainfall with 37mm, followed by PAF Faisal Base with 32mm, and Jinnah Terminal with 18mm. Other areas such as Keamari, Airport Old Area, Korangi, University Road, Nazimabad, and Surjani Town recorded lighter showers.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued an alert at 3pm, forecasting rain with thunderstorms and strong winds for most parts of Karachi and its surroundings, warning of the risk of urban flooding.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also urged citizens to remain cautious. In a post on X, he said: “It is expected to rain again from 2pm onwards. I would request people to avoid movement and if it starts to rain, please stay put where you are whether it is your office or residence.”
