Every monsoon season, Karachi faces the same devastating reality: widespread flooding, collapsed infrastructure, and thousands displaced from their homes. The city, home to over 22 million residents, continues to flood year after year due to a combination of urban mismanagement, outdated drainage systems, and intensifying climate threats.
Recurring Floods, Escalating Losses
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Karachi recorded over 220 millimeters of rainfall in August 2025, nearly double the city’s drainage capacity. Data from the Sindh Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) revealsthat 48 lives were lost, and over 14,000 households were displaced during thisyear’s monsoon.
In low-income districts such as Orangi Town, Korangi, Lyari, and Baldia, entire neighborhoods remained underwater for up to four consecutive days. With nearly 35 percent of Karachi’s population living in informal settlements, the lack of proper sanitation, drainage, and housing intensifies the impact of each seasonal flood.
Structural and Governance Failures
Karachi’s flooding is not solely a natural disaster; it is the result of longstanding governance failures and poor urban planning. Experts identify several key contributing factors:
- Encroachment on natural drains: Almost 40 percent of the city’s natural waterways have disappeared due to unregulated construction and landfill dumping.
- Outdated stormwater systems: Most drainage networks were built in the 1960s, designed for a population of 3 million, not today’s 22 million.
- Solid waste crisis: Karachi produces over 12,000 tons of waste daily, with nearly 60 percent left uncollected, leading to severe blockages in storm drains.
- Rising sea levels: The Indus Delta region is eroding at a rate of 80 square kilometers per year, amplifying coastal flooding risks.
The Human Toll
Field assessments by BREDO Pakistan across flood-prone neighborhoods show that thousands of families lose essential belongings, including identity documents, school materials, and work equipment, every year.
Children face the harshest consequences: in 2024, 50 public schools in Karachi were closed for over a month due to severe water damage. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reported a 35 percent rise in waterborne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, following last year’s monsoon.
“The floods in Karachi are not just about rain, they are about lives being disrupted in cycles,” said a BREDO spokesperson. “Families rebuild again and again, only to see their progress washed away. Breaking this pattern requires real investment in community resilience and risk reduction.”
Building Urban Resilience
Addressing Karachi’s flooding challenge demands sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban planning rooted in disaster risk reduction. BREDO advocates for:
- Expanding and modernizing the city’s drainage and stormwater infrastructure.
- Relocating high-risk communities with safe, dignified housing options.
- Enforcing solid waste management and environmental zoning laws.
- Strengthening community-based early warning and evacuation systems.
- Integrating refugees, migrants, and low-income residents into citywide disaster management frameworks.
BREDO Pakistan is working closely with local authorities, NGOs, and community groups to enhance preparedness, early warning systems, and rapid response capacity in Karachi’s most vulnerable areas. The organization also provides shelter rehabilitation, livelihood recovery, and community disaster awareness programs.
A Shared Responsibility
Karachi generates nearly 20 percent of Pakistan’s GDP, yet it remains among the most climate-vulnerable cities in South Asia. With annual rainfall increasing by 15 percent over the past decade and unplanned urban expansion continuing unchecked, the humanitarian and economic risks will grow unless coordinated, preventive action is taken now.
About BREDO Pakistan
BREDO (The Bridge for Resilience, Empowerment, and Development Organization) works to reduce disaster risk, enhance community resilience, and strengthen local response capacities across Pakistan. With a focus on climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and urban resilience, BREDO leads initiatives that protect vulnerable populations and promote sustainable development in flood-prone regions like Karachi.
For Further Information Contact:
BREDO Karachi Office
Phone: +92 337 213 1720
Email: info@thebredo.org
Website: https://thebredo.org/