ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: All the civil institutions and public sector companies in communication, railways, oil and gas, health, food, energy and security have been put on alert as a precaution to meet any eventuality arising out of the US military attacks on Afghanistan.

The cabinet division has directed heads of ministries and attached public sector companies to maintain sufficient stocks of commodities, spares and machinery keeping in view short and long term requirements.

A meeting that was scheduled for Monday to review the respective plans of various sectors was postponed due to pressing engagements of army officers following US attacks in Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad on Saturday night. These plans would now be finalized by the respective sector heads separately.

A comprehensive contingency plan, based on a number of arrangements from various ministries, is expected to be presented to the federal cabinet and the National Security Council on Wednesday, cabinet sources told Dawn.

“All the secretaries have been advised to go through their respective ‘war books’ and prepare their demand and supply position to cover areas like sufficient stocks of essential commodities, machinery, equipment and spares,” said a senior government official.

Background discussions with senior officials, however, suggest that the government is faced with a peculiar situation this time.

Pakistan’s past concerns of maintaining stocks and supply channels were based on attacks from Eastern side while the Western and Southern land route primarily from Iran was completely safe and secure.

As the ‘war book’ have been opened first time in about three decades, the officials would have to concentrate mainly on maintaining sufficient stocks primarily relating to oil supplies, spare parts and equipment for electricity and gas companies, security of railway tracks and ports.

Separate meetings are taking place at various ministries to ensure spare parts and other requirements of state-owned strategic companies like PTCL, Wapda, KESC, all the oil refineries, OGDCL, SSGCL, SNGPL, PPL, PSO, Pakistan Railways, PIA, TCP and port facilities.

The fact that Pakistan has no direct threat of attack from any side, its south-west road and railways infrastructure, in view of proximity with US-Taliban war zone, are being considered comparatively unreliable to transport oil supplies. Though most of normal transportation activities take place through air and sea routes, war-like situations have their own constraints, officials said.

Informed sources said the government had already discussed these issues with friendly Arab countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to reassure oil supplies in any difficult situation though there already exist long-term agreements.

The federal government decided last month to increase oil supply coverage to 45 days equivalent consumption level from current 19 days to meet any future strategic needs.

The Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet had directed the petroleum ministry to remain extra vigilant on demand and supply position of oil.

The sources said that efforts were being made to increase fuel storages of all power plants of Wapda and KESC to the maximum capacity of about 15 days which normally stay below the capacity due to financial constraints.

Security of all oil and gas installations including fields and refineries have already been handed over to armed forces to avoid any sabotage activity by the enemies taking advantage of prevailing situation, the sources pointed out.