KARACHI, Jan 4: The City District Government Karachi has established a district municipal office for crisis management to deal with any crisis, natural disaster, accidents, etc., in Karachi.

The city government has also formed a steering committee, headed by Chief Controller of Karachi Building Control Authority Brig A S Nasir to govern new office.

The other members of committee include Capital City Police Chief (CCPO) Karachi or his nominee (not below 18 grade), EDO Health, District Officer Civil Defence and Fire Brigade, Chairman, City Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), Representative of meteorological department, Abdul Sattar Edhi or his nominee, Dr Anwar Saeed of Liaquat National Hospital, Saifuddin Advocate and Faizanullah, members of City Council Karachi and Misbahuddin Farid.

The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, has issued a notification to this effect by exercising powers conferred by the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) and in pursuance of clause (ii) of Part-D of the first schedule of ordinance.

The terms of references (ToR) set for the steering committee envisage preparation of standing protocols for officials of concerned department of CDGK, all three tiers of local government and other concerned in case of any crisis, natural disaster, accidents, etc.

The committee will decide in detail, fix and assign exclusive and specific responsibilities for concerned officers of the CDGK. It will also design procedures for continuous contacts with concerned department of the CDGK, Sindh Government, Federal Government and NGOs.

The committee has been assigned the task to prepare a report regarding organizational setup for crisis management office within a week and will hold training programmes for officers concerned.

In addition, it will also publish such material necessary for awareness of public and design a continuous awareness campaign through seminars, special programmes for colleges and school students and other modes. The notification says that the chairman and non-official members will hold the office for two years irrespective of change of their assignments. -PPI