LAHORE, April 8: The provincial authorities have decided to form crisis management cells at least in major towns of Punjab, it is learnt.

In the first phase, the initiative is being introduced in the provincial metropolis as the home department has issued directions to the effect, says an official source.

District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ijaz, under the guidelines of the home department, convened a meeting of various district and town officers to constitute the district management cell last week.

The DCO informed the participants that need for the step was felt after Feb 14, 2006 riots and some building collapse and fire incidents where coordination among different departments was missing.

Headed by the DCO, the cell’s members include the Rescue 1122 district emergency officer, the EDO (works & services), the city and Cantonment DDO (revenue), the district civil defence officer, the district solid waste management officer, the district fire officer, and TMOs of all the nine towns.

Representatives of Lesco, Sui gas, PTCL, police and PHA would be taken on the forum at the second meeting of the cell expected to take place within two weeks.

Telephone numbers of all the members will be circulated among all member departments to contact them in any eventuality.

The DCO nominated district emergency officer as the focal person in all kinds of emergencies to keep the former updated on developments during emergency situations.