Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday directed enhancement of weather forecasting and removal of encroachments in natural waterways and strengthening of embankments to prevent flooding. Chairing a meeting on the state of disaster preparedness 2012 by the Ministry of National Disaster Management, the PM directed the Ministry of Water and Power, the National Highway Authority (NHA), the Pakistan Railways and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure removal of encroachments along Sher Shah Bridge, Akbar Bund, Shahdhra Railway Bridge before the start of the monsoon season to minimise damages in case of floods. The meeting was attended by the secretaries of Finance, Economic Affairs Division, National Disaster Management Divisions, chairmen of NDMA, NHA, Federal Flood Commission and WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority), and the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, DG Met Office and other senior officials. The Prime Minister directed improved weather forecasting capacity of the Met Department by linking it with the European Satellite System and the use of international data to improve accuracy of weather forecasting. In this regard he also directed the Ministry of Finance and the Economic Affairs Division to arrange required funds and added, “it will be worthwhile not to follow the approach of penny wise, pound foolish’”.
