KARACHI: Modern disaster management methods stressed
KARACHI, Nov 14: The Disaster Management Committee, constituted by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has decided to incorporate the technical aspect, identified by its technical and management sub-committees, into its terms of reference for finalization of recommendations.
The decision came at the fourth meeting of the committee which was held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Waseem Akhtar, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Local Government.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Akhtar said that on the basis of the committee’s recommendations and proposals, the Local Government Department would prepare a summary, and determine the city’s zoning in the final recommendations which would be presented before the governor on Wednesday.
He pointed out that Karachi, being a mega city, needed sophisticated arrangements to face any calamity or emergency. “Other cities, too, may experience an earthquake or similar calamities but they have smaller populations and lesser buildings than Karachi, which has a big population, high-rises and industrial units.”
The adviser also spoke of earthquake, cyclone, floods or other calamities and said that possibilities of flood situation in River Indus had reduced considerably due to the construction of dams and canal network.
He told the meeting that a major task of the disaster management cell would be to coordinate between government organizations and provide them guidelines on meeting the pre- and post-calamity situations.
He stressed that technical organizations should provide timely information to people so that spread of rumours could be checked.
He said it was the responsibility of meteorological and geological survey departments to inform people about tremors, as well as their epicentre and intensity.
Vice-Chancellor of the Urdu University Dr Syed Iqbal Mohsin, who heads the technical sub-committee, presented recommendations and emphasized on the establishment of a disaster management board to serve as a bridge between government institutions and citizens. The board, he said, should be responsible for long-term planning, public awareness, monitoring system, rescue and relief activity and preparedness of volunteers.
It was recommended that buildings in Karachi should be categorized through a seismic survey while the departments concerned should take steps for having a seismic zone map and modification of building codes.
The technical committee recommended issuance of directives for chalking out programmes for national newspapers, private and public sector TV channels and FM Radios for the purpose of creating public awareness.
Dr Mohsin also suggested establishment of a seismic research institute, provision of equipment and availability of experts and infrastructure.—APP
