President Asif Ali Zardari Tuesday 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.
The president said this on Tuesday at a meeting held at Bilawal House while reviewing various arrangements made ahead of imminent floods in Sindh during the current Monsoon.
Those who were present during the meeting included among others Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, Sharjeel Memon, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Nawabzada Mir Nadir Ali Khan Magsi, Agha Siraj Khan Durrani and Haji Muzaffar H Shujrah, Sindh Chief Secretary Raja Abbas, provincial secretaries of the concerned departments and other senior officials.
Secretary General to the President M Salman Faruqui, Secretary to President Malik Asif Hayat, Special Secretary Ms Nasreen Haq and NDMA Chairman Zafar Iqbal Qadir were also present.
The NDMA chairman while briefing the meeting informed that Sindh PDMA had held meetings with relevant stakeholders and the district officials to review the pre-emptive measures and 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 had been mandated to undertake its assigned responsibilities prior to, 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 had been formed for taking care of rescue, relief, vigilance, evacuation efforts and other services including transport, health and sanitation. For mobilisation 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.
The 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 the monsoon season.
The president called for timely completion of arrangements and directed for removal of illegal zamindari bunds and encroachments. The president also directed for regular maintenance and vigilance of flood protection infrastructure. He said the concerned provincial authorities should ensure that all contingency plans were properly implemented at the district level.
He also called for strengthening of metrological department for accurate and timely weather forecast. He said 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.
Mr. President, isn't it too late to plan for all this Evacuation, Rescue and Relief! Don't you think you were supposed to plan for this months back.
Don't you think by making Dams you can solve three major problems of this country at-least; 1) Flood 2) Electricity 3) Water for irrigation. What have you done for that? Millions of gallons of water is wasted every year? Don't you think you are and idiot?
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