QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has directed authorities concerned to take timely measures to cope with possible floods in the province.

Presiding over a meeting here on Thursday, he said that by employing better strategy and planning the extent of damage to be caused by the natural disasters could be reduced.

The provincial government has declared 25 districts sensitive and four very sensitive where heavy rains and flash floods have been forecast.

The director general of Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Tahir Minhas, put Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad and Subatpur in the category of very sensitive districts. Sibi, Zhob, Musakhel, Loralai, Barkhan, Kohlu, Harnai, Kachhi, Gwadar, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Sherani and Kalat are among sensitive districts.

He told the meeting that more rains were expected in the province and added that six relief centres had been set up to provide immediate relief to flood-affected people.

He said that in order to provide urgent food to affected populations Rs1 million had been given to each commissioner and Rs500,000 to each deputy commissioners.

He directed health officials to ensure availability of necessary medicines in public hospitals. He asked the additional chief secretary (development), secretaries of irrigation, health, communication and livestock to supervise relief activities.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2015

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