LAHORE, July 19: All concerned departments in the Punjab and DCOs have been directed to remain alert to avert any eventuality during the flood season.

Necessary equipment, including boats, out boat motors, life jackets, de-watering pumps etc., have been placed at the army disposal.

This was stated by relief and crisis management director-general Chaudhry Muhammad Azam after a high-level meeting chaired by provincial commissioner Syed Ghazanfar Ali to review pre-flood arrangements on Wednesday. Senior officers of all departments concerned were present.

He said 850 boats, including fiberglass boats, country-made and rubber boats, 892 OBMs and 8,232 life jackets had already been placed at the army disposal while 455 de-watering pumps have been handed over to district governments and Wasa.

Moreover, search lights, walky-talky sets and other necessary equipment have also been given to the concerned quarters.

He said the DCOs had been directed to keep river embankments under constant supervision, pay regular visits to relief camps, keep evacuation plans ready and ensure arrangements for availability of edibles like flour, sugar, ghee, pulses and drinking water.

The DCOs had also been asked to make sure that timely warning system and mechanism for local publicity and information disbursement was in place, he said.

He said the district administration had been asked to make liaison with the local army units and it must be ensured that adequate number of boats were stationed in the area.

The official further said the combined task forces had been constituted for prompt action in case of an emergency, he added.—APP