KARACHI, June 22: The public service departments of the City District Government have jointly evolved a strategy, in advance, to deal with any emergency during the upcoming monsoon rains.

In this connection, various departments and organizations would cooperate with the CDGK and depute an officer to the Central Emergency Centre (CEC), set up in the Civic Centre, a press release said on Sunday.

These organizations and departments will also establish their own emergency centres, which will function round the clock and will remain in touch with the CEC.

Telephone numbers of these emergency centres would be publicized through media to inform the public, so that they could contact them easily for prompt action, the release said.

City’s fire brigade stations have also been converted into emergency centres.

District officer, Civil Defence and Fire Brigade, Col Ehtishamuddin, will head the central control room.

These decisions were taken at a meeting held at the Civic Centre, with City Nazim Nematullah Khan in the chair, which was also attended by Karachi DCO Mir Hussain Ali, DIG Operations, Tariq Jameel, town Nazims, executive officers, town municipal officers and officers of traffic police, besides officials of the CDGK, KBCA, Water and Sewerage Board, KESC, Sui Southern Gas Company, PTCL and other federal and provincial departments.

The DCO said that EDO Works and Services had been appointed as coordinator, who would be responsible for providing all necessary machinery, which was presently being used to clear flood drains and nullahs, by city government.

He said the Rain Emergency Plan was aimed at saving the lives and property of the citizens during the coming rainy season.

He informed that KW&SB had already been directed to start work on choked lines and manholes, specially in katchi abadis, situated at Malir and Liyari river banks and were more prone to devastation by rains.

The possibility of setting up of relief camps at schools, in each town, might be explored, he said.

EDO, Health, was directed to depute medical and paramedical staff for these relief camps in advance and notify their lists, he said, adding that the NGOs would also be asked to extend help in relief operations.

He said that DDO Revenue would be the in charge of such relief camps, whereas officials of social welfare, education, health and police departments would remain present in the relief camps.

In case of any emergency, the people would be informed through announcements on loudspeakers and sirens of the Civil Defence department, he further said.

The meeting also decided that the Army and Pakistan Navy would be called, if necessary, and section 144 would be imposed in coastal areas in order to avoid loss of lives.

Mr Tariq Jameel said that police would evolve a combined strategy with the cooperation of all TPOs and Town Nazims and written instructions would be issued to all TPOs in this regard.

Traffic police will ensure smooth working of its signals in case of heavy rains, and additional staff will be deputed at the busy intersections.

The KESC officers informed that separate teams would work at the emergency centres for taking immediate remedial action in case of power breakdown or snapping of wires.

The officers of telephone and gas companies also assured that all measures had been adopted to deal with any emergency situation.—PPI