HYDERABAD, Jan 23: The establishment of an efficient, reliable, relief and rescue-oriented district disaster management authority to cope with natural or man-made disasters had been discussed with administrative and technical experts and it would be formed within shortest possible time, district naib nazim said this here on Wednesday.

Mr Zafar Rajput has stated this while addressing a workshop on the role of the authority organised by Sindh Agriculture & Forest Workers Coordination Organisation (SAFWCO) in collaboration with the Oxfam at a local hotel here.

He said since the notification of the authority’s formation was received from the provincial government, the district government has started work on it and held more than two meetings in which different committees were formed to prepare a blueprint for organisational structure for undertaking preventive and rescue work to avoid disasters and to minimise losses in any untoward situation in the district.

He said in addition to it the district government was spending huge amount for laying sewerage lines and make communication system more effective to avoid storm water, flood emergency or chances of big accidents in district.

He said District Nazim Kanwar Naveed had directed Building Department of Hyderabad Development Authority to revise the building by-laws to have safe residential structures.

He said though Hyderabad district doesn’t fall in earthquake zone, collapse of building, breaches in canals, fire incidents, bomb explosions, heavy downpour, road, rail or airway accidents could happened anywhere and it was necessary to have an efficient authority.

He stressed upon the need for having technical expertise to adopt precautionary measures before occurrence of any disaster.

About the recent wave of terrorism, he termed it a big challenge not only for the government but for whole nation and suggested that this should be dealt under the authority.

He said that as a nation we should undertake joint efforts for elimination of terrorism.

He said that recommendation passed by the workshop would be incorporated in the authority plan.

He said awareness about the functions of the authority among the public was essential so that people should know who was to be approached and where to go in case of an emergency.

He said that NGOs, media, teachers and civil societies could play a vital role in creating awareness among the masses.

Earlier, chief executive officer SAFWCO Suleman Abro, Shalam Kamran, Farzana Panhwar, Masood Mahesar and Ghulam Mustafa Nangrage spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of formation of the authority in each district to minimise effects of a disaster.