The Sindh government and the city authorities as well as the traffic police, in view of the August 19 chaos on city roads, have adopted preemptive measures to ensure safety and convenience of citizens. Police have issued advisory telling people to avoid unnecessary travel following the forecast of heavy rainfall.
Provincial Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, on the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, presided an emergency meeting to discuss and finalise the preparedness to tackle the situation in case of heavy downpour.
The meeting was attended by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, secretary local government, secretary information, additional IG Karachi, DIG Traffic, DG PDMA, Rescue 1122, representatives from the Water Board, K-Electric, SSGC, KDA, KMC, all deputy commissioners of Karachi division and other relevant officials.
It was decided that special arrangements would be made to facilitate citizens and ensure smooth flow of traffic. Traffic diversion and road closures will be implemented as required, with all such decisions subject to the approval by the mayor, the meeting decided.
The DIG Traffic will manage diversion of traffic and road closures, while citizens will be kept informed through FM 88.6 and other communication channels.
The chief secretary emphasised that during the previous spell of rain, citizens faced severe difficulties due to the lack of timely information about alternative routes, which resulted in severe traffic jams at several points. This time, DIGs, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, SSPs, SHOs, Rescue 1122, and district officers will remain present in the field to assist citizens and manage traffic.
PDMA officials have been directed to remain in the field with dewatering machines, pumps, and other necessary equipment to ensure immediate drainage of rainwater. PDMA DG informed that 16 dewatering pumps have already been installed at various points across the city. Rescue kits will also be provided to field officers to enable immediate assistance to citizens.
Rescue 1122 teams have been put on high alert to respond promptly in case of emergencies and to carry out rescue operations. KDA machinery will also be deployed at key points, while KMC will establish special camps to provide guidance to the citizens.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab informed the meeting that the cleaning of storm drains and choking points has been expedited, and dewatering pumps have been installed at critical roads. It was also decided that control rooms would be established at the commissioner’s office and police office to ensure close coordination among all relevant institutions.
K-Electric officials assured the meeting that special control points have already been set up to ensure uninterrupted power supply during rains.
The chief secretary stressed that all institutions must work in close coordination with a joint strategy to ensure smooth traffic management, effective drainage, and maximum facilitation for Karachiites during the rains.
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