MUZAFFARABAD: A high level meeting on Monday reviewed availability and prices of food commodities, ongoing relief operation in Neelum Valley, rehabilitation work on roads network, status of healthcare facilities and stock of medicines in different parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The meeting, chaired by chief secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, was attended by secretaries to government, heads of departments and senior police officials, including IGP Salahuddin Mehsud, either in person or through videoconferencing.

It was informed by secretary food Syed Zahoorul Hassan Gillani that six months stock of food was available in the far flung snowbound areas in the upper belt of Neelum valley, Leepa valley and Haveli district.

He, however, told the meeting that transportation of food items in some areas had got affected due to road blockade in the wake of recent torrential rains and heavy snowfall.

The blocked roads were being reopened and the shortfall of essential commodities would be met soon, he said.

Special secretary health Sohail Azam informed the meeting that sufficient stock of medicines was available with district health officers (DHOs) for snowbound areas and the health department was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.

In the snowbound areas, medicines were being dispatched 25pc more than their normal quota, he said.

Secretary works Ghulam Bashir Mughal briefed the meeting about the status of roads while secretary relief, disaster management and civil defense Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri updated it on the ongoing relief operation in Neelum Valley.

Speaking on the occasion, chief secretary Rana stressed that the entire official machinery should continue its rescue and relief related efforts in the calamity hit areas of state and any food and medicines shortage should be overcome on a war footing.

Mr Rana also directed the wheat should be supplied to the flour mills in AJK from the nearest towns of Punjab so as to avoid unnecessary delay and hurdles in its transportation.

He asked the divisional and deputy commissioners to extend full cooperation and support to the departments engaged in supply of foodstuff and medicines in the harsh weather affected areas.

The administration must also take strict action against hoarders and profiteers, he directed.

The state disaster management authority should keep on informing people about climatic conditions through different mediums of communication so that people could take precautionary measures in time, he said.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2020