KARACHI: The provincial government has decided to implement and complete all safety and precautionary measures and permanently eliminate all encroachments from storm-water drains within the boundaries of each district before the onset of rains.

This decision was taken at a meeting on city infrastructure improvement and development held under the chairmanship of local government, housing and town planning secretary Syed Najam Ahmad Shah.

Officials of the Pakistan Army Engineering Corps, city administrator and metropolitan commissioner, managing director of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and representatives of commissioner of Karachi and Civil Aviation Authority and others attended the meeting.

The meeting participants discussed in detail the causes of devastation caused by previous rains, pre-monsoon preparations and encroachments on drains.

The LG secretary said that the KMC, KWSB and all other institutions must be on the same page in order to get the important municipal issues of the city resolved.

The LG secretary directed the water utility chief to immediately remove encroachments on the rainwater drain passing through the Water Board Colony and implement an integrated strategy with the help of the KMC.

The participants in the meeting agreed that a comprehensive and coordinated strategy should be formulated for permanent removal of encroachments within the jurisdiction of all boards and authorities.

Mr Shah said that it was important to bring the city to its original condition and all possible resources and efforts should be utilised to achieve this goal.

He said that the National Disaster Management Authority also played an important role in cleaning of drains in the city.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2021