KARACHI, Oct 15: The Sindh government has issued a notification under which a 19-member Disaster Management Committee (DMC) headed by Mr Waseem Akhtar, Adviser to the CM on Local Government, has been set up.

The DMC will recommend measures to cope with natural calamities like earthquake, cyclone, etc., it was officially stated.

The notification has been issued by Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman on Saturday.

Members of the DMC include Member Board of Revenue, Secretary LG, Director Meteorological Department, DCO Karachi, and heads of DHA, KESC, KWSB, Hesco, KBCA, SSGC, PTCL, Institute of Architects Pakistan, Engineering Consultants International, Institute of Environmental Studies (KU), and representatives of the Federal Urdu University, NED University, Hamdard University and University of Engineering and Technology (Jamshoro).

The committee will suggest measures for cooperation between various departments and agencies besides recommending precautionary measures in the event of any natural calamity in Sindh.

According to the terms of reference, the committee will also suggest disaster awareness and advance measures to cope with an anticipated emergency or calamity. It will prepare a contingency plan for rehabilitation of the calamity- affected people.

It will consolidate all reports prepared by various institutions and organizations in relation to disasters, like earthquake, fire, cyclone, flood, etc., and chalk out recommendations to meet such emergencies in a most effective manner.

The committee will also suggest measures towards checking rumours that spread panic in the wake of disaster.

Meanwhile, Provincial Relief Commissioner Syed Anwar Haider has submitted report to the chief secretary about the relief activities in Sindh.—APP