The provincial government on Wednesday informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that it had decided to establish 171 first response centers in six districts of the city to counter predicted heatwave which is likely to hit in May or June this year.
The SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing a petition filed by renowned singer Shezad Roy and other civil rights campaigners seeking action against the responsible for failing to ensure supply of water and electricity during the days of heatwave in Karachi last year.
On Wednesday’s hearing, Additional Attorney General Ghulam Mustafa Mahesar appeared before the court and filed compliance report reflecting the proportionate measures adopted by the provincial government to counter the heatwave predicted by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
According to Heatwave Emergency Plan 2016 for Karachi constituted by districts administrations and health department Sindh, 171 first response centers in all six districts of the metropolitan would be established.
“As many as 17 first response centers with the facility of 80 beds in district East, 50 centers having 271 beds in West, 28 centers having 268 beds in South, 38 centers having 176 beds in Central, 22 centers having 44 beds in Malir and 16 centers having 40 beds in Korangi, have been decided to establish,” the report added.
The government has decided to arrange awareness programmes through walks, pamphlets and banners in all public gathering places like parks, roundabouts and lectures in educational institutions. The government has also decided to arrange awareness campaign through electronic and print media. The report says that 688 ambulances will be on stand-by position in case of any emergency all over the city. “Some 300 ambulances of Edhi foundation, 249 of Chhipa foundation, 90 of KKF, 16 of Al-Mustafa Welfare, 25 of JDC and eight ambulances of city administration will be made available to rescue the people.”
The copy of the report was also supplied to the petitioner’s counsel who sought time to go through it. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till 15th of April 2016.