LAHORE, Jan 12: All district coordination officers were told here on Saturday to ensure smooth power supply to Muharram meetings and processions for security reasons, and collect the claims of damage done to private property after the assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto by Jan 22.

The directions were given by Chief Secretary Salman Siddique who presided over a marathon meeting of the DCOs here at the Civil Secretariat, reviewing security arrangements particularly for Muharram engagements, wheat flour supply position, revenue collection and health and education reforms.

National Commission on Assessment of Damages Convener Dr U A G Isani also attended the meeting which decided that Rangers would be deployed at the flourmills in the province to monitor grinding of wheat being issued by the government and supply of flour to the market from Monday (tomorrow).

Salman Siddique informed Dawn after the meeting that the DCOs were asked to immediately contact Wapda officials in their respective districts to ensure regular supply of electricity to Muharram meetings, majalis and processions so that their security could be ensured.

The DCOs were also asked to adopt power conservation measures in government offices and residences.

The chief secretary said police had already been issued directions on how to provide security to Muharram meetings and processions. Police had been asked to keep a distance between the gatherings and the checking points where the organisers should also be engaged for allowing entry only to known persons after proper frisking with metal detectors. Women organisers should also be engaged for frisking female participants at the pickets where women police were not available for the purpose, he said.

The chief secretary said the meeting also reviewed arrangements regarding the support services like hospitals, Rescue 1122, ambulances and fire-brigade facilities to ensure availability of necessary services in all districts in case of any emergency.

Regarding the posting of Rangers at the flourmills, he said they would record the amount of wheat reaching the mills and flour issued from there, and send daily reports to him.

The staff of all DCOs would also monitor the receipt of flour at the special sales points, already set up at union council levels and at fair price shops to check hoarding and profiteering, sending daily reports to him, he said, adding the mills were bound to send 50 per cent of the grinded wheat to these points.

He said the exercise would help the government assess whether the mills were sending the flour direct to the market or it was being withheld. Stern action would be taken against the millers withholding flour, he added.

Salman Siddique said forms for claiming damages for the loss of property after Dec 27 tragedy would be available at the DCOs’ offices or at the official website, and people could file their claims by Jan 22.

The provincial committee comprising relief and crisis management secretary, an additional IGP and an additional secretary of the home department would hand over the final list of damage claims to Mr Isani.