KARACHI: The Sindh livestock and fisheries ministry on Tuesday declared rain emergency in the wake of expected heavy rainfall across the province, cancelling official leaves with the instruction to make sure veterinary aid was available to animals, officials said.

The officials said as the Meteorological Department had predicted heavy rainfall and thundershower with gusty winds in the coming days across the province, Provincial Minster for Livestock and Fisheries Mohammed Ali Malkani had declared rain emergency for the ministry by which the official leaves had been cancelled, with directions for officers to join their headquarters immediately.

Subsequently, the ministry issued directives to all the field officers and officials not to leave their headquarters. They have been asked to worl( round the clock with availability of medicines, vaccines, life-saving drugs with mobile units in place for providing veterinary aid in the event of any emergency.

The officials said an emergency cell had been established for receiving livestock complaints at the office of the executive director animal husbandry at Shahbaz Building in Hyderabad.

`The fishermen have also beenadvisednotgointhe deep sea for fishing for one week and take all necessary precautionary measures,` said an official.

Officials in the fisheries wing have been asked to ensure their presence at their headquarters and pass necessary directions to fishermen.

The director fisheries (marine) for Karachi region and director fisheries (inland) for the rest of Sindh have been nominated focal persons for the fresh contingency plan devised by the ministry, said the officials.