BAHAWALPUR: The district administrations of Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Vehari have launched a ‘beat-the-heat’ programme to protect plants, flowers and humans from the current heatwave that has hit the province, especially south Punjab.

All the government departments, including the hospitals, emergency service, civil defence and local bodies, under the Punjab government’s advisory, have geared up to provide protective measures to the people during the heatwave.

Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa asked the government departments, including the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Rescue 1122, the district council and the municipal corporation to swing into action to save plants on green belts along the roads in the Bahawalpur city and other places of the district from extreme heat.

The PHA launched a special ‘beat the heat’ campaign, which was inaugurated by DC Zaheer Anwar Jappa. According to DC’s instructions, the government institutions would water all the green belts and plants twice a day.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Jappa said protection of the plants and green areas from the extreme weather conditions along with the provision of protective measures for the humans was needed of the hour. He said all the government departments were providing necessary facilities to the people to beat the heat across the district.

PHA Director General Rubina Abbasi appealed to the public to protect trees and plants on their lawns during the ongoing heatwave.

Meanwhile, a non-government organisation (NGO), with the coordination of a foreign institution, established ‘cooling centres’ at the University Chowk and the general bus stand in the city.

The centres, inaugurated by Social Welfare Deputy Director Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, District Emergency Officer Baqir Hussain and others have started providing cold water mixed with the ORS (oral rehydration solution) to the public.

In Lodhran, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rauf Mahar gave instructions to the departments concerned to take protective measures to save the people from heat.

He said special sheds and shelters should be erected at the waiting areas of bus stands tehsil headquarters of Lodhran, Kahror Pucca and Dunyapur.

In Vehari, Deputy Commissioner Syed Asif Hussain said the heatwave camps had been established at the general bus stand, Jinnah Road, MC office, Khanewal Chowk and other thoroughfares in the city where cold water had been made available for the people.

He issued directions for special care of plants and trees on the city’s roads as well as in the parks.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024