Regular supply of food, drinking water is highest priority: Zardari

President directs officials to supervise and coordinate relief work in affected districts.

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed that highest priority be given to saving human lives in the flood affected areas by ensuring regular supply of food and safe drinking water to the victims.

President gave these directions during a briefing on flood situation in Sindh at Bilawal House Karachi.

The briefing was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza and Federal Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

Briefing the media, spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the President also directed that senior government officials should be nominated in each affected district to supervise and coordinate distribution of the relief and rehabilitation aid.

Accordingly, 15 senior officers of the provincial government were designated today for the most affected districts in Sindh for this purpose, he said.

The President said that these officers will be personally responsible to ensure smooth operation of rescue, relief and rehabilitation work in the respective districts assigned to them.

A special control room was also set up in Bilawal House. The President’s spokesperson said the special control room is directly connected to all the DCOs and the President will be able to hold video conferences with provincial government officials and DCOs and monitor the progress at any time.

“I will be monitoring the monitors,” the President remarked.

Farhatullah Babar said that the President had given directions for setting up of the special control room in Bilawal House during his visit to the United Kingdom and the facility had already been put in place.

He said the President plans to stay in Karachi for some days to monitor the flood relief measures.

Stressing the need for saving lives by ensuring food and water availability, the President said that if needed, helicopters and boats may be leased from other countries for this purpose.

The President said that the next priority should be given to draining out the stagnant rain water whether by pumping or gravity flow or by connecting it with the existing drainage system.

The President said that all the stakeholders, local representatives, political leaders and MNAs and MPAs should also be involved in this exercise.