President chairs meetings on flood situation in Sindh, law and order

Karachi: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday directed all the federal and provincial government departments to undertake every possible effort in a concerted manner for providing relief to the flood-hit people and to ensure that the outbreak of various water-borne diseases is also kept in check.

He said that along with the relief activities, comprehensive
plans should be chalked out immediately to provide necessary
assistance in rehabilitation of the affected people and the farmers.

The President said this while chairing a meeting to review
Emergency Relief Readiness in Sindh here at the Bilawal House.

The meeting chaired by the President was attended among others
by

Minister for Climatic Change, Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan,
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Zafar Iqbal
Qadir, Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation Maj Gen. (r)
Muhammad Farooq, Commissioner Sukkur Inam-ullah Dharejo and other
senior officials were also present during the meeting.

Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said
that Chief Minister Sindh briefed the President about the latest
floods situation and the devastation caused by the floods in various
districts of Sindh including Sukkur, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore
and Shikarpur.

He also informed the President about relief efforts being
undertaken so far for the affectees by the provincial government and
concerned district authorities.

Chairman NDMA Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir briefed the meeting about
the preparations that were made by Provincial Disaster Management
Authority (PDMA) to meet any emergency situation and also about the
efforts undertaken in providing basic necessities to the affected
people including transporting them to safer places and providing
them with tents and ration.

MD Utility Stores Corporation Maj Gen. (r) Muhammad Farooq
briefed the meeting about the situation vis-…-vis availability of
ration and other food items.

The President while expressing grave concerns over the
devastation caused by the floods directed the concerned authorities

to ensure that the affected persons are provided with tents, ration
and safe drinking water on priority basis in view of the fast
approaching winter season.

He directed that medical camps should be set up for the
affected people to provide medical assistance in case of any water-
borne disease.

The President said that all efforts should be made to cater to
the needs of women, children and the aged persons.He said that the federal government would be providing all possible assistance to the provincial government in the relief and
rehabilitation activities.

The President also directed the Chief Minister and members of
Sindh Cabinet to personally monitor the relief activities and
maintain close coordination with the concerned district officials.He directed that the Presidency be kept informed about the
latest situation.

The President further said that he would also be monitoring
the situation and would be interacting with the district officials
and representatives through video-conferencing.

Spokesperson said that briefing on flood situation was
followed by another meeting on law and order situation in the
province, especially in Karachi, and was attended by Chief Minister,
provincial ministers including Pir Mazharul Haq, Syed Murad Ali
Shah, Agha Siraj Khan Durrani and Sharjeel Inam Memon, Chief
Secretary Sindh, senior officials of police department and others.

During the meeting, the President was briefed about law and
order situation and various measures that have been taken for
keeping the law and order situation under control.

Spokesperson said that the President reiterated that
maintaining law and order in the province especially in the
metropolis was top priority of the Government and no effort should
be spared in this regard.

The President was also briefed about video surveillance system
that has been operationalized in Karachi to monitor law and order
situation. It was informed that 960 cameras at 164 locations have
been installed besides 100 mobile vehicle mounted cameras and 300
data supported hand-held PDAs for the surveillance purposes.

The President expressed his deep concern over the recent
incidents of killings of the innocent civilians and the terrorist
activities in the metropolis.He said that the terrorists and miscreants will never be able
to shaken the resolve of the Government and all efforts would be
undertaken to bring the culprits to justice.

The President also inquired from the Chief Minister about the
well-being of the people who sustained injuries as a result of
Tuesday’s explosions in the Haideri Market.He directed the Chief Minister to ensure that best medical assistance was being provided to the injured.

The Chief Minister also briefed the President about the
details of the factory fire incident.

The President while expressing sympathies with the bereaved
families inquired about the well-being of the affected peo