Balochistan coastal belt put on high alert

Cyclone Biparjoy nears Makran region

QUETTA:

The government of Balochistan has declared a high alert in the coastal areas of the province as Cyclone Biparjoy continues to grow in the Arabian Sea and nears Makran Belt.

Section 144 has been declared in the coastal belt on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo.

All departments and law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert to tackle the situation. The leaves of all government employees in the Makran Belt have been cancelled in view of the looming threat, an official handout issued on Monday revealed.

Bizenjo has directed the commissioners of Makran and Kalat divisions to boost coordination and place all departments on high alert to avert any untoward incident.

He directed that coordination should be established among law enforcement agencies (LEAs), civil administration and all relevant agencies in this regard.

He also instructed the relevant departments to actively engage and seek input from fishermen, who possess profound knowledge of the sea.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General (DG) Jehanzaib Khan briefed the chief minister on the preparation for a relief operation in view of the looming threat.

The Director-General of PDMA, along with his team of experts and relief equipment, is currently stationed in Gwadar. They are closely monitoring the cyclone situation and actively coordinating relief efforts.

The CM ordered timely preparations to effectively deal with all kinds of emergency situations in sea storms.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2023.