KARACHI, July 20: Sindh Chief Secretary K. B. Rind asked on Saturday the provincial secretaries and district coordination officers to ensure effective, integrated and preemptive measures to prevent untoward incidents due to expected monsoon rains.

“In addition they should also coordinate their working with the federal departments and organizations concerned, the army and the navy and other related organizations and take measures to counter any emergency situation.”

The decisions were taken at a meeting, presided over by the chief secretary, and attended by the secretaries of health, agriculture, forest, environment, the relief commissioner for flood, senior member Board of Revenue, Commander 5th Corps, director of the meteorological department and representatives of other federal and provincials departments besides district coordination officers of all the district governments.

The chief secretary sought suggestions of the participants on handling the situation which might emerge in case of rains.

Mr Rind issued instructions to the authorities concerned to take preemptive measures to meet any eventuality, appointment of labourers at flood protective walls, availability of equipment and machinery, installation of wireless system and other communication apparatus and provision of necessary funds.

He instructed the secretary agriculture, relief commissioner and senior member Board of Revenue to constitute combined teams to tackle the situation in case of heavy rain.

He told the meeting that the home secretary would help get wireless system and cooperation from police.

He instructed the relief commissioner and the secretary irrigation to maintain constant liaison with the navy and the army.

The DCO Karachi, Shafiqur Rahman Paracha, later briefed the chief secretary on measures taken/planned by the city government about rain.

He laid special emphasis on coordinating working among the departments concerned of the districts of Larkana, Dadu and Thatta as these were more prone to flood.

He also announced the setting up of a control room at his office where officers would be posted to maintain coordination between police and other agencies. — PPI