Plan to cope with possible floods evolved

LAHORE

The Punjab government has worked out a comprehensive plan to cope with the possible floods during the current year and necessary directions have been issued to the district administrations in this regard.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Flood Control presided over by Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin was held at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Jawad Akram told the meeting that a comprehensive plan had been evolved to deal with the monsoon rains and possible floods from January 15.

He said directions had been issued to the district administrations to submit a report regarding the setting up of control rooms, nomination of focal persons and other arrangements by March 15.

Addressing the meeting, Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin said DCOs should complete all arrangements on time so that losses from any possible flooding could be minimised.

The districts of Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali and Khushab should especially be focused, he added. He directed the Irrigation Department to effectively look after he dykes and embankments of rivers and nullahs in the flood-prone areas and carry out repair work if required.

Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal lauded former Senior Member Board of Revenue Nadeem Ashraf, DG PDMA Jawad Akram and DCOs of flood-hit districts for better arrangements for flood during the year 2015. He said natural disaster like flood could be dealt with effectively through better planning. He also urged the concerned officers to continue work with commitment and devotion.

The meeting was attended by Adviser on Prisons Arshad Saeed, Senior Member Board of Revenue Zahid Saeed, Secretary Agriculture Shehar Yar Sultan, Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz and other officers.