Lahore: Punjab Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management, Khawaja Salman Rafique, said that all possible measures are being taken to protect Punjab from floods in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
He made these remarks during a visit to the Provincial Emergency Center at the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Headquarters on Friday, where Director General PDMA Saif Anwar Jappa briefed him on the latest monsoon situation and water flow in rivers across the province.
The minister said that cabinet members, the DG PDMA, commissioners and deputy commissioners were personally visiting Muridke, Pathan Colony in Ferozwala and adjoining areas to monitor relief operations. He added that uninterrupted supply of ration and animal fodder was being ensured through flood relief camps established in the affected areas.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Health, Rescue, Livestock and other relevant departments were fully active in the field. He added that the safe relocation of livestock was also being ensured, while affected people were being provided with food, clean drinking water, medical facilities and other essential services.
He said flood relief camps, rescue machinery, boats, emergency staff and evacuation plans had been activated in accordance with the vulnerability of different areas. The administration, he added, was fully prepared to respond to any emergency.
The minister said Rescue services had been equipped with modern equipment worth billions of rupees, while both pre-disaster and post-disaster response mechanisms had been further strengthened. He expressed confidence that these measures would help minimise flood-related risks and water hazards, adding that PDMA’s preparedness this year was significantly better than last year.
Speaking on the occasion, DG PDMA Saif Anwar Jappa said all officers remained on high alert in the field. He added that the monsoon situation and river water flows were being monitored round the clock to ensure a timely response to any emergency.