All relevant departments to remain alert after a flood warning: Chief Secretary Punjab

Lahore: Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal has directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert after a flood warning was issued.

He was presiding over a meeting to review arrangements to deal with possible floods, at Civil Secretariat here on Friday.

The Chief Secretary said that federal and provincial departments should enhance coordination for effective monitoring of flood and weather situation, directing that all the protective arrangements be checked again. He issued instructions to district coordination officers (DCOs) to personally visits embankments and remain in their districts during Eid holidays. He said that the natural disaster like flood can be dealt with in an effective manner through better planning and coordinated efforts.

The Chief Secretary directed the Secretary Local Government to ensure special arrangements for draining rainwater in cities in view of possible heavy downpour.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Jawad Akram told the meeting that PDMA is having as many as 10000 tents and 20000 food hampers in its warehouse while 55,000 tents had already been distributed. He said that flood warning has been issued to all Commissioners and DCOs and a control room is fully functional to monitoring flood situation. Boats and other relief goods had already been sent to districts, he mentioned.

Secretary Irrigation Saif Anjum briefed the meeting about the flow of rivers and water level in dams. Met Office representative told the meeting that earlier exceptionally high flood warning was issued but now the situation is different and high flood is being forecast.

Those among present were: Irrigation Minister Yawar Zaman, Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Senior Member Board of Revenue, and secretaries of different departments.