KP govt declares emergency due to fire at Koh-e-Suleman
A report regarding firefighting efforts to contain wildfire in Balochistan’s Sherani area was submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, detailing the ongoing operation in the affected areas.
According to the report, a team consisting of federal and provincial departments had been formed while a control room was set up by the department of forests and wildlife to monitor the situation, besides an emergency was imposed by the Zhob commissioner in the affected area.
The Balochistan chief secretary, forest secretary and PDMA DG had also visited the affected area to supervise the ongoing operation. Different teams of about 300 personnel were taking part in the operation in Shair Gali, Zargon Zawar, Tor Ghar and Takkai areas.
PM’s special representative and Federal Minister for Housing Maulana Abdul Wasey also chaired a meeting in Zhob which was attended by the chief minister, federal and provincial authorities and the commander 12 Corps.
Under the prime minister’s direction, a task force under the supervision of the secretary forests and wildlife Balochistan had been constituted in Sherani district. Besides, a notification related to ‘Village and Area Fire Control’ committees had also been issued.
The report further said the PDMA was providing the required firefighting equipment and rescue vehicles to control the spread of wildfire. The NDMA was also supplying the necessary equipment whereas Pakistan Army has provided two helicopters, besides an army base camp was set up which was extending support in the ongoing operation.
Meanwhile, PDM spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah on Sunday criticised the government’s response to the unabating forest fire in the Sherani district of Quetta in Balochistan.
Hamdullah stated that the forest fire has become extremely dangerous, as flames have grown to engulf a vast area of 40 square kilometers. As the forest continues to burn, he said, “why did the state, provincial and federal governments remain silent for 13 days?”
