The Punjab government has worked out a comprehensive plan to cope with possible floods during the current year and necessary directions have been issued to district administrations in this regard.
A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Flood Control presided over by Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin was held at Civil Secretariat, here on Tuesday. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Jawad Akram told the meeting that a comprehensive plan has been evolved to deal with monsoon rains and possible floods and preparations have been started from January 15. He said that directions have been issued to district administrations to submit report regarding setting up of control rooms, nomination of focal persons and other arrangements by March 15.
Addressing the meeting, Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin said that DCOs should complete all arrangements on time so that losses from any possible flooding could be minimized. The districts of Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali and Khushab should especially be focused, he added. He directed the Irrigation Department to effectively look after dykes and embankments of rivers and nullahs in the flood-prone areas and carry out repair work if required.
Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal lauded former Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf, DG PDMA Jawad Akram and DCOs of flood-hit districts for better arrangements for flood during the year 2015. He said that natural disaster like flood can be dealt with effectively through better planning. He also urged the officers concerned to continue work with commitment and devotion.
The meeting was attended by Advisor on Prisons Arshad Saeed, Senior Member Board of Revenue Zahid Saeed, Secretary Agriculture Shehar Yar Sultan, Chief Metrologist Muhammad Riaz and other officers.