News Desk
Quetta: A meeting of the Balochistan Disaster Management Commission, chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, Commission Member and Assembly Member Mir Zafarullah Zehri, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary of Planning and Development Hafiz Abdul Basit, Senior Member Board of Revenue Kambar Dashti, and Secretary of Communications and Works Lal Jan Jaffar, along with other relevant officials.
During the meeting, DG PDMA Jehanzaib Khan provided a briefing on the agenda points. The Chief Minister directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to enhance its preparedness for natural disasters and ensure the protection of communication bridges to maintain connectivity during such events. He emphasized the importance of collecting scientific data to better manage natural disasters and instructed that studies on flood situations resulting from monsoon rains should commence annually in February.
It was decided that PDMA will conduct assessments throughout the year to better handle disasters and avoid the creation of unnecessary positions in the Disaster Management Villages established in divisions. The meeting also resolved that quarantine centers established in Taftan during the COVID-19 pandemic would be fully brought under PDMA’s administration. Several other key decisions regarding PDMA’s operations were also made.
Chief Minister Bugti reiterated that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority plays a crucial role during natural disasters. He emphasized the need for thorough preemptive preparations to ensure effective relief and recovery operations during any emergency. He also highlighted that several districts in Balochistan are facing flood situations due to monsoon rains and instructed the relevant authorities to ensure the protection of communication links, particularly bridges.
