Rain emergency plan reviewed in Karachi

Rescue helpline 1299 to work through a centralised control room

KARACHI: Newly-appointed Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui directed the concerned officials to be fully prepared to perform their duties to meet the challenges of rain emergency.

In a meeting held on Friday, he asked them to make efforts to effectively implement the contingency plans prepared to ensure coordination among the civic agencies, as well as to provide relief to the people during expected monsoon rains in the city.

He was chairing a meeting to review the contingency plans prepared by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), civic agencies and other concerned organisations.



It was decided in the meeting that relief activities will be carried out with close coordination and cooperation through a central working network that would be set up at the commissioner's office.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), all the district municipal corporations, cantonment boards and other concerned departments, were tasked to ensure that the human and material resources were mobilised properly.

The KMC, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the PDMA must keep their de-watering pumps functional ahead of the monsoon along with alternative power supply arrangements, it was told in the meeting.

The rescue helpline 1299 at the commissioner office will work through a centralised control room and all civic agencies will be required to share responsibility and delegate some of their staff.



According to a press statement issued by the commissioner's office, most of the storm water drains have been cleaned and work on others is under way. It also ensured the roads would be garbage-free.