Minister for creating flood risk awareness among people

LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee for Disaster Management Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasised the need to raise awareness among citizens about the risks of rains and floods at the local level.

Chairing a Cabinet Committee meeting at the PDMA head office here on Thursday, he urged the district administrations and revenue officers to disseminate critical information through mosques and other community channels.

The meeting, which reviewed action plans related to river erosion prevention schemes, also discussed a six-point agenda. PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia gave a briefing on the agenda items.

Among the approvals granted during the meeting were the construction and repair of the Walawala safety dam in Kasur and a project to mitigate erosion of the Chenab River in Hafizabad’s Bhawan Fazil area.

In addition, significant steps have been taken by PDMA to address flood risks in the Rajanpur and DG Khan rivers, with a grant of Rs7 million approved for an early warning system and Rs11million allocated for strengthening and repair of river dams and embankments.

The completion of these projects will be overseen by Punjab PDMA and Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner.

The meeting included a review of arrangements in light of the monsoon rains and potential flooding in the Chenab River.

PDMA’s preparations were praised, with the Cabinet Committee expressing satisfaction over the measures in place. Attendees of the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary Ahmad Raza, SMBR and Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed, commissioners from Bahawalpur, Lahore, and Gujranwala, as well as deputy commissioners from Bahawalnagar, Kasur, and Hafizabad, who participated via video link.