KARACHI, July 2: Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Muttawakal Kazi has directed the irrigation and power department to improve coordination with all stakeholders and relevant authorities to cope with possible rains and floods in the province.

Talking to newsmen at his office he spoke about the strategy adopted to tackle possible floods and rains.

The chief secretary said that DCOs were made focal persons for their respective districts while at the provincial level the irrigation secretary would undertake monitoring.

He said there were five important problems concerning the issue - over-topping, leakage of embankment, blow-out, which means flowing of water to the other side below the embankment, wave-wash and river evasion.

He said that high-flow floods which took place between 1956 to 1976 were also being studied while 20 dozers of the agriculture department and 10-UHF police wireless sets and other advanced vigilance and relief equipments had been made available for the purpose.

Direct contact with the Federal Flood Commission, Wapda and the cabinet committee was maintained and following the decision of the federal government monitoring and control of the situation would be ensured, he added.

The chief secretary informed that the DCO Karachi was the focal person of the relevant strategy in the city including Malir, Lyari, Bin Qasim, Ibrahim Haideri and Gadap towns and in that regard cooperation of all relevant authorities was needed.

He said that help of the armed forces especially Pakistan Navy would also be required in order to get better results.—PPI