LAHORE: Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal has dire cte d the Provincial Disas ter Management Authority (PDMA) to complete all preparations to deal with the possible floods.

He issued the directive while addressing a meeting held to review the arrangements for dealing with the possible noods at the civilsecretariat on Thursday.

With better planning and concerted efforts, the chief secretary said natural calamities like floods could be dealt with effectively, adding that provincial and federal departments should enhance coordination for monitoring of the flood and weather conditions.

Instructing the PDMA director general to contact theWapda officials for removal of hanging power wires, the chief secretary said steps should be taken to prevent any incidents of electrocution during rains. He said cleaning of all drains andsewerage lines should be completed at the earliest for timely drainage of rainwater.

The chief secretary also directed the health department to ensure the supply of anti-venom vaccine and essential medicines in districts.

He said encroachments around rivers, canals, dykes and bridges should be removed and staff of relevant departments be present on duty in flood control rooms set up in the districts. The meeting also considered a proposal to build water storage tanks in big cities on the pattern of Lahore.

The PDMA DG and divisional commissioners briefed the meeting through video-link.

The meeting was informed that all the districts had prepared district flood emergency plans and submitted those to PDMA.

The provincial flood emergency plan would be finalised by June 15 while mock exercises had been started in the districts. Cleaning of Nullah Lai is under way.

The meeting was attended by the additional chief secretary (home), IG Punjab, secretaries of irrigation, agriculture, finance, DGPR Punjab and other officers concerned.