Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to remain high alert as around 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs flood water from upcountry was likely to hit Sindh on August 3.
Chairing a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority at the Chief Minister House to discuss recent rains and their effect, Shah told the participants that the Irrigation and Power Department has estimated that around 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs water would cross Sindh on August 3, which required integrated and coordinated efforts by all departments/agencies to meet any eventuality.
He also asked administrators of Karachi, Hyderabad and other big cities to remove encroachments and illegal settlements along storm water drains.
The chief minister ordered the administrator Karachi to prepare a PC-1 plan to remove encroachments along Nullahs.
Shah instructed the officials concerned to take all necessary precautionary measures for safety of residents of the coastal areas.
He issued instructions for preparing a comprehensive plan to avoid natural disasters and activation of district disaster management institutions.
The Food Department was instructed to take precautionary measures at its godowns to save stocked wheat from rains.
Chief Secretary Sindh Fazalur Rehman told the participants that the number of boats was being increased in Karachi and in case of any eventuality, school buildings would be turned into relief camps.
He said that more de-watering pumps were being purchased to drain out accumulated rainwater in the city.
Minister for Revenue Jam Mehtab Dahar, IG Sindh Baber Sultan Khattak, CM’s Principal Secretary Syed Sohail Akber Shah, Special Secretary Home Kamran Dost, Secretary Local Government Khurshid Naeem, Secretary Food Naveed Kamran Baloch, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Mohammed Salih Farooqui and others attended the meeting.
