ISLAMABAD: Chairman Capital Development Authority and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Monday chaired a meeting at CDA Headquarters to review pre-monsoon preparedness and emergency response measures in the federal capital.
The meeting was attended by Member Administration and Estate Talat Mehmood, Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, Member Finance Tahir Naeem, along with officials from the Islamabad administration and the engineering and environment wings.
Speaking during the meeting, Randhawa said the purpose of the session was to ensure advance preparedness to deal with emergency situations during the upcoming monsoon season.
He said the Capital Emergency Service would play a leading role during the monsoon and directed officials to identify low-lying areas and locations vulnerable to flooding across the city.
The chairman also instructed departments to mark areas that were affected during last year’s monsoon and to propose preventive measures based on previous experiences.
During the briefing, the Director General of the Capital Emergency Service informed participants that water rescue training for staff had been conducted with the support of Chinese experts and the Pakistan Navy to enhance response capacity.
Officials said the preparations include inspection and availability of flood-fighting equipment and the start of cleaning operations in streams and nullahs across the capital.
The meeting was also informed that a Flood Control Room would be established to ensure inter-departmental coordination, while early warning systems and identification of flood-prone areas have been included in the preparedness plan.
In addition, the Capital Emergency Service has formed specialised water rescue teams consisting of 12 members to respond to potential flooding incidents.
Chairman Randhawa directed authorities to remove illegal encroachments along streams and nullahs before the monsoon and ensure the availability of necessary equipment such as water pumps and dewatering sets to deal with any emergency.
He emphasised that comprehensive planning and timely arrangements before the arrival of the monsoon season were essential to effectively manage potential flooding risks in Islamabad.
