KARACHI, Jan 16: To prepare for any eventuality arising from the tense situation on the borders and prepare the residents of Karachi to meet any man-made or natural disaster, the civil defence department has been given the task of enlisting more than 100,000 volunteers in the city.

Though the city government is striving to reactivate the civil defence department and induct a large number of youths from Karachi as volunteers, but non-cooperation from the department has led to delay in preparing an emergency plan for the city.

At a meeting held recently the Nazim Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, who is also the Chief Warden of Civil Defence Karachi, has named the DO General Administration, Col Ehtesham (retd), the focal person to coordinate all efforts of the civil defence department, and crisis management officer.

The meeting regretted that, over the years, most of the functions of the civil defence department, including imparting training to the people, had been neglected.

It was felt that the civil defence set-up needed to be reorganized at Town and union council levels to motivate a maximum number volunteers to join civil defence.

Out of 77 staff and officers of the civil defence department, including four controllers in Karachi, they are willing to give only one controller and 13 other staff and officers to the city government.

At present, the civil defence department is under the Sindh home department.

However, the city government shall provide all possible support and help to reactivate this important organization as per international standards according top which there should be at least 780 trained volunteers per 100,000 population. So Karachi needs at least 100,000 volunteers of civil defence.

According to the reorganization formula of civil defence, the city Nazim is the chief warden and the Naib Nazim the deputy chief warden.

All the 18 Town Nazims will assume the responsibility of divisional wardens, UC Nazims are group wardens and UC councillors post wardens.

Though this has not become operational, it is hoped that the present situation will make the authorities to go for early completion of the task.

According to papers prepared by focal person, Nazim at each level is expected to organize training by co-opting civil defence department warden post being established at Town, UC offices to attract a maximum number of volunteers.

A number of women councillors of the City Council have shown their willingness to organize civil defence training for women in their respective areas.

A crisis centre has been set up at the civil defence’s office which is functioning round the clock and its phone Nos are 9215662 and 9215665.—PPI