PDMA ready to cope with monsoon spell, says minister

LAHORE: Provincial Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique said that all arrangements have been completed to cope with the monsoon spell. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is fully alert to deal with all challenges, including flood, covid, dengue, drought, smog and heatwave.

He said this while addressing an important meeting of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority DG Irfan Ali Kathia briefed the meeting about monsoon contingency plan 2024. Four agendas were presented in the meeting. During the meeting, the recent situation of rains has also been reviewed.

Kh Salman also visited the Provincial Disaster Management Authority control room.

Provincial health minister said that 24-hour monitoring was being done in the provincial and district control rooms. Due to climate change, Pakistan may face heavy rains and flood situations and timely measures are being taken to protect human lives. He directed that all departments, divisional and district administrations should keep close contact with each other to deal with emergency situations adequately. Coordination with other PDMA institutions is welcome, he added.

He said that directions have been issued to strengthen the embankments of rivers and schemes to prevent river erosion will be approved immediately. Mock exercises are also being conducted in the respective districts and measures are also being taken to prevent fire incidents in large and small forests, he added.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed, Secretary Emergency Services Punjab Dr Rizwan Naseer, Provincial Disaster Management Authority DG Irfan Ali Kathia and other officers participated in the meeting. Representatives of Finance Department, P&D, C&W, Irrigation, Agriculture, Information, Police and Broadcasting, Rescue 1122 and Meteorological Department were also present on this occasion.