IN anticipation of heavy rains, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday directed the irrigation department to prepare an emergency plan to handle potential river flooding. He also stressed the need for proper coordination among law enforcement agencies, the Pakistan Navy and all relevant departments to address any emergency situations promptly.
Excessive rains and floods induced by a climate change played havoc with daily life, infrastructure and agriculture in 2022 and in view of the forecast regarding above than normal rain between July and September, federal and provincial governments are making preparations to handle any emergent situation. At national level, the Prime Minister is monitoring the situation personally and appreciably the Sindh Chief Minister is also exercising due vigilance. Sindh has reasons to be extra vigilant because the province is most vulnerable to river floods as accumulated flow from the entire Indus Basin is to be conveyed to sea through the province. It was in this backdrop that the Chief Secretary of the province held a timely meeting in June to review preparations to manage the potential threat. The Deputy Commissioners were assigned the task of convening meetings of respective District Disaster Management Authority to prepare medium and high flood contingency plans. Senior Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani, who is known for his keen interest in issues concerning welfare of the people, is instrumental in the process of finalizing arrangements for handling the potential flood situation. He is playing a key role in ensuring active involvement of the local governments announcing that relief camps would be set up at union council level and that ration, tents and other supplies would be stored in district warehouses for prompt distribution during rescue and rehabilitation phases. We hope that the vigilance being exercised by the provincial government would help mitigate sufferings of the affected people.
