Karachi: With the threat of high floods looming, the Sindh government on Thursday ordered urgent health preparedness across the province, directing hospitals and health centres to stock essential medicines and vaccines for malaria, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases, along with anti-venom for snake bites and rabies vaccines to meet any emergency.
The directives were issued by Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah while chairing a high-level meeting in Karachi to finalise contingency plans.
Senior officials from the Irrigation, Local Government, Health, Livestock, Public Health Engineering and Police Departments attended, while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined via video link.
The Irrigation Department briefed the meeting on river flows and warned of a potential high flood in Sindh due to heavy rains in Punjab and upstream areas.
The Chief Secretary said all preparations must be completed on priority to protect lives and property, adding that Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had already presided over a separate meeting on flood preparedness.
He directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to prepare comprehensive contingency plans, prioritising the safety of people and livestock, and to maintain details of government and private machinery for immediate deployment.
All leaves of essential service departments, including Irrigation, Health, Local Government, Police, Public Health Engineering, Livestock and deputy commissioner offices, were cancelled with immediate effect. Control rooms are being set up at the Chief Secretary’s Office, commissioner and deputy commissioner offices to monitor the situation round the clock and address public complaints.
The meeting also decided that the Livestock Department would immediately vaccinate animals in vulnerable areas, while Rescue 1122 and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) would share their inventories of boats, tents, medicines and other equipment with commissioners and deputy commissioners.
Officials said 188 rescue boats have already been made available across Sindh, while local vendors have been identified to supply additional boats in case of emergency.
The Chief Secretary directed close coordination with the Pakistan Army, Navy, Rescue 1122 and other agencies for timely rescue and relief operations, and instructed commissioners and deputy commissioners to personally visit riverine areas to review ground preparations.
He emphasised that proactive measures and clear communication with the public were vital to minimise risks.
“A well-coordinated and systematic strategy is essential to protect the lives and property of citizens in the wake of any possible flood situation in Sindh,” he said.
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