ISLAMABAD, July 7: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday reviewed the flood situation in the country and directed the relevant authorities to carry out rescue and relief operations promptly in the flood-hit areas. Presiding over a high-level meeting, the prime minister also directed the Pakistan Meteorological Department to set up an early warning system to monitor temperatures and water situation in catchment areas for accurate and timely weather forecasts.

The prime minister asked federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi, who was present in the meeting, to visit the affected areas and monitor the distribution of relief goods there.

Besides this, the prime minister also directed the Cabinet Division to keep relief goods ready for dispatch any time to meet all types of eventualities and emergencies.

Mr Aziz stressed the need for an effective coordination among various civil and military agencies, involved in flood control and relief operations.

In the meeting, Mr Aziz was given a comprehensive briefing on the flood situation and current position of rivers, particularly River Kabul, River Sindh and River Chenab. The prime minister was informed that at present there was high flood in River Chenab.

Government officials told Mr Aziz that the people living in low-lying areas had already been informed by the local administration about the possible danger and they had been advised to evacuate the area and shift to higher places.

The prime minister also reviewed the existing flood monitoring system.

The meeting was attended by adviser to the prime minister on finance Dr Salman Shah, engineer-in-chief of Pakistan Army Lt-Gen Mohammad Zubair, federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi and other senior civil and military officials.