KARACHI, March 20: The City District Government has finalized arrangements to deal with any emergency in the wake of US invasion of Iraq on Thursday.

As per the provincial government’s directives, the city government has asked all the Town Nazims to keep monitoring the situation in their jurisdictions and maintain a close liaison with Nazims, TMOs and TPOs.

A Central Control Room has also been established at the city government level where services of all departments — KESC, SSGC, Police and other civic agencies besides Edhi Foundation — will remain available round-the-clock. The centre is headed by Col (r) Ehteshamuddin.

A decision in this respect was taken at a meeting held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of City Nazim Naimatullah Khan. It was attended by Naib City Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali, DIG Operation, EDOs and Town Nazims besides officials of SSGC, Civil Defence, Police, medical superintendents of major hospitals and other civic agencies.

Mr Naimatullah Khan told the officials that the government and people did not differ on policy towards US invasion of Iraq. He said the invasion was not being appreciated.

He advised that people should follow the state policy and it should be everybody’s effort that the anti-US feelings did not turn towards our own government. He observed: “our enemy must have been in search of an opportunity (to cause harm) but we should not provide it such an opportunity.”

He said that the enemy could take advantage by targeting places of worship of any religion or sect. He asked Town Nazims and the local administrations to take special care in ensuring protection to mosques, temples, Imambargahs, churches, etc.

Nazim Karachi informed that locations have been predetermined in 18 Towns for holding any demonstrations and the protesters can hold protest rallies or demonstrations or meetings at such places.

He made it clear that no demonstration or procession in front of embassies and on roads and at round-abouts in Clifton areas would be permitted.

The Nazim said that the Control Room, which was established for Muharram, had been revived forthwith whereas doctors and ambulances in emergency wards of all the hospitals were made available.

It was decided that steps would be taken to keep a control on prices while a pool of heavy machinery had been set up. Arrangements have also been made for prompt firefighting service and at fire stations and prominent commercial centres.

The DCO, Mir Hussain Ali, said that meetings had been held at provincial government level with the leaders of various political and religious parties. At the city level, he added, such meetings would be convened by the Nazim and at town level, the concerned Nazims would remain in contact with these leaders.

He said on the instruction of the provincial government, there would be a constant liaison between District Nazim, DIG and DCO whereas at the town level, such liaison would be maintained among Town Nazim, TMO and TPO.—APP