KARACHI, Oct 8: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman in view of the oil spill due to the sinking of an oil carrier in the sea appealed to the citizens that they should refrain from eating seafood till clear instructions in this regard are issued by health authorities.

He also directed the heads of environment, health and home departments to ensure coordination and adopt an effective strategy to cope with the situation.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he also alerted all the provincial secretaries concerned in this regard. The chief secretary's directive followed Friday night's sinking of an oil barge carrying 70 tons of oil off Karachi Port.

Referring to the breakage of Tasman Spirit three years back, the chief secretary said that in the light of the past experience a practical strategy, not based on any hypothesis, needed to be worked upon for adoption to ensure safety of people.—APP