KARACHI, Sept 11: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that the federal and provincial governments would provide whatever funds required for the relief and rehabilitation of the rain-affected people and for strengthening infrastructure in the province.

Presiding over a high level meeting at the Governor’s House, which reviewed the ongoing relief and rehabilitation operations in Hyderabad, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Jamshoro and other areas, the governor directed the authorities concerned to acquire pumping machines from wherever the same were available to drain out water from roads and streets across the province.

Advisers to the CM Waseem Akhtar and M. A. Jalil, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Principal Secretary Mohammad Salim Khan, ACS Local Government Mirza Karim Baig, Relief Commissioner Syed Anwar Haider and Finance Secretary Malik Israr were among those who attended the meeting.

Dr Ibad directed the finance department to immediately release Rs500 million for relief operation. He also called for the setting up of a special cell, headed by the ACS local government and comprising officials from irrigation, livestock, Hesco, Wasa, health department, DCOs concerned, etc., to ensure quick and smooth work for the relief and rehabilitation of affected people.

The governor directed them to induct the consultant, assigned the task of preparing the Hyderabad Master Plan, in the proposed cell for guidance in the work for draining out rainwater in that city.

He issued necessary instructions for providing people the required facilities at relief camps.

The governor asked the authorities concerned to shift animals from Hyderabad zoo to Karachi.

Waseem Akhtar left for Hyderabad immediately after the meeting to supervise the relief and rehabilitation operation. Earlier, he briefed the governor about the situation following rains and flooding in Sindh, besides the measures taken to clear Latifabad and Qasimabad of rainwater.—PPI