Punjab CS asks depts to build liaision for better performance

Asks NDRMF officials to help govt evolve policy to control pollution

LAHORE: Punjab government has decided to benefit from the expertise of National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) to mitigate effects of climate change and deal with natural calamities such as floods, droughts and earthquakes.

The decision was taken at a meeting of NDRMF, presided over by Punjab Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan at Civil Secretariat.

Speaking at the meeting, the chief secretary asked NDRMF officials to help the provincial government evolve a comprehensive policy for the revitalisation of Ravi River, controlling environmental pollution and flooding at Sawan River.

This policy would include measures to deal with issues of smog, fog, disposal of industrial waste, vehicular emissions, and water and air pollution, he added.

Offering services of experts to deal with flooding in rivers and nullahs in the province, the CEO assured that they would extend all kind of technical and financial support to the provincial government. He maintained that his organisation is ready to provide help to the province for drought mitigation.

The chief secretary directed the Irrigation department to benefit from the expertise of NDRMF to reduce the risk of drought in Cholistan.

The meeting also decided to adopt the strategy of risk assessment before any disaster so that precious lives and infrastructure could be saved.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2020.