Be prepared: Govt alive to flood situation, says Gondal

Chief secretary orders steps to spread awareness about dengue fever

LAHORE: Regular monitoring of river flows and weather conditions is being ensured to deal with floods, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal said on Saturday.

He met with National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Major General Asghar Nawaz to discuss the flood situation, protective measures and relief activities underway in the areas affected by floods.

The chief secretary said various government departments were providing relief to the flood-affected people in collaboration with Pakistan Army. He said ministers and secretaries of various departments were overseeing relief activities.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority Director General Jawad Akram also attended the meeting.

Earlier, the chief secretary chaired a meeting to review measures taken to control dengue fever in the province. He ordered steps to enhance public awareness about the disease and its prevention. He directed the Auqaf and Minorities Affairs Departments to make sure that all worship places were free of dengue larvae.

Additional Chief Secretary Syed Mubashir Raza, King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Faisal Masood and Dengue Consultant Waseem Akram attended the meeting.

Dengue-free colleges

Higher Education Secretary Irum Bukhari chaired a meeting on Saturday to review anti-dengue activities at colleges across the province. She ordered that colleges be cleaned regularly to avoid breeding of mosquitoes carrying dengue virus. She said a seminar would be arranged on dengue fever awareness on August 5. She said a topic on dengue fever would be included in Pakistan studies teaching.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2015.