Flood precautions: Sindh IG calls back police officers on leave

KARACHI:

In the wake of forecasts for heavy rainfall, the provincial police chief has called all the policemen on leave back to their duties.

Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali issued directives that leaves of all sorts are to be cancelled and those on leave are to report for duty. “All supervisory police officers, including SHOs, DSPs and district SSPs should not leave their station,” he directed. “A mechanism of patrolling shall be devised near banks of water channels and in katcha areas facing threats of floods to get firsthand information regarding any developing situation,” he said.

Jamali ordered the maintenance of a proper, effective and continuous liaison with relevant departments, such as irrigation, meteorological department, district administration, local units of the Pakistan Army and Rangers and NGOs involved in relief work. Maximum support should be extended to people in distress and measures for safety and security of life and property should be ensured, he said.

Jamali added that effective modes of communication should be established with the public, so that people may contact them in case of an emergency. He also directed police officials to facilitate NGOs and governmental departments involved in relief efforts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2015.