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Islamabad, July 10, 2012 (PPI-OT): President Asif Ali Zardari today directed Sindh administration for an early completion of precautionary measures to deal with any emerging situation of floods at the onset of monsoon keeping in view the experience of recurring floods of past two years.
This he said while reviewing various arrangements that have been put in place to meet any emerging situation in case of floods in Sindh during the current Monsoon at a meeting held at Bilawal House today.
Those who were present during the meeting included among others Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Provincial ministers Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, Mr. Sharjeel Memon, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nawabzada Mir Nadir Ali Khan Magsi, Agha Siraj Khan Durrani and Mr. Haji Muzaffar H.Shujrah, Chief Secretary Sindh Raja Abbas, provincial secretaries of the concerned departments and other senior officials. Secretary General to the President Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary to President Malik Asif Hayat, Special Secretary Ms. Nasreen Haq and Chairman NDMA Mr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir were also present.
Chairman NDMA while briefing the meeting informed that PDMA Sindh had meetings with relevant stakeholders and the district officials to review the pre-emptive measures and has advised them for putting in place appropriate precautionary, response, rescue and relief measures.
It was informed that Districts’ Monsoon Contingency Plans have been prepared highlighting the responsibilities of various offices under the control of district administration and each office has been mandated to undertake its assigned responsibilities prior, during and post flood situation.
It was also informed that a Provincial Monsoon Contingency Plan 2012 has also been drafted to serve as a roadmap in any emerging situation.
The meeting was informed that at Taluka level, committees have been formed for taking care of rescue, relief, vigilance, evacuation efforts and other services including transport, health and sanitation. For mobilization of necessary resources, the concerned DCs have been tasked to maintain updated inventory of resources. Location for temporary settlements of displaced people has also been identified in advance in case of emergency calling for mass evacuation.
PDMA has also planned to pre-qualify vendors with a view to make procurements of important relief goods such as tents, plastic sheets, family ration packs etc ahead of monsoon season.
The President while calling for timely completion of arrangements called for removal of illegal zamindari bunds and encroachments. The President also directed for regular maintenance and vigilance of flood protection infrastructure. He said that the concerned provincial authorities should ensure that all contingency plans were properly implemented at the district level.
The President also called for strengthening of Metrological department for accurate and timely weather forecast. He said that in order to avoid havoc caused by any future floods it was important that concerted efforts were made at provincial and district levels involving the local population while making necessary arrangements to deal with any emerging situation.
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
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