- Shahbaz presides over Cabinet Committee on Flood meeting, asks authorities to adopt precautionary measures against floods
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Monday presided over a meeting at Civil Secretariat with the Cabinet Committee on Flood through video link from London to review in detail the measures taken for coping with recent rains and possible flood situation in the province.
Shahbaz directed that water level in the rivers should be continuously monitored during the heavy rains and all necessary measures be taken to cope with any situation.
He said that no negligence and laxity will be tolerated in this regard.
“The Cabinet Committee on Flood should personally monitor the repair work of important bunds and spurs of rivers and canals and repair work should be completed on emergency basis,” he said, adding that negligence and laxity in the repair work of bunds and spurs of rivers and canals won’t be tolerated.
He directed authorities concerned that a report should be submitted after third-party inspection of important bunds and spurs.
He directed that Cabinet Committee on Flood should hold meeting on daily basis and monitor the flow of rivers and immediate protective measures be taken where necessary.
“Effective coordination between provincial and federal institutions concerned is of a vital importance. The authorities should be contact between all and information should be exchanged on moment to moment basis in the light of which necessary arrangements should be made,” he added.
Shahbaz directed that advance information should be acquired from the Meteorological Department about rains and precautionary measures should be taken. He said that arrangements should also be completed for the timely evacuation of localities on the banks of rivers in view of possible floods.
The chief minister also directed that the protective measures should also be adopted in view of possibility of flood in hill torrents of DG Khan and Rajanpur. He said that flow of water in canals and nullahs of Sialkot and Gujranwala should be monitored round the clock. He also ordered enquiry into the losses caused due to erosion by River Sindh in Layyah. He further directed that dewatering sets and other necessary machinery should be hundred percent operational and regular inspections in this regard should be carried out.
He said all the protective arrangements will be monitored by him.
The chief minister said that the Cabinet Committee on Flood should ensure immediate implementation of the decisions taken in view of possible flood and no delay will be tolerated at any cost. He said that protective arrangements should be effective and comprehensive.
He directed that the departments and institutions concerned should remain alert regarding the weather condition and flow of water in rivers and there should be complete preparation to meet any emergency situation.
He further directed authorities concerned that encroachments on beds of the rivers and around rainy nullahs should immediately be removed and indiscriminate action should be taken in this regard with the cooperation of district administration and police.
The federal and provincial authorities concerned gave detailed briefings to the meeting regarding weather situation and flow of water in rivers.
Provincial ministers Yawar Zaman, Dr Farrukh Javed, Advisor on Health Salman Rafiq, provincial assembly member Zaeem Hussain Qadri, chief secretary, Board of Revenue senior member, Punjab inspector general of police, secretaries concerned, PDMA DG, Rescue-1122 DG, WASA MD, Meteorological Department DG and senior officers of the departments concerned attended the meeting through video link from the Civil Secretariat. Provincial minister Col(r) Shuja Khanzada and DCO Attock from DCO Office Attock, secretary to Punjab chief minister, commissioner Rawalpindi Division and DCO Rawalpindi from Commissioner Rawalpindi office, secretary Irrigation and commissioner DG Khan Division from Commissioner Office DG Khan while administrative officers of Sargodha Division also attended the meeting through video link.
