DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed all provincial departments to ensure complete operational readiness ahead of the monsoon season, warning that negligence or administrative complacency will not be tolerated.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the Provincial Monsoon Contingency Plan on Friday, the chief minister reviewed preparedness measures across the province in anticipation of heavy rains, potential flooding, and related disasters. Senior officials from PDMA, Irrigation, Rescue 1122, Health, Education, Communication and Works, Local Government, Forest, and Tourism departments attended the briefing.
Mr Afridi stressed that timely and coordinated measures were critical to safeguard human lives, public assets, and infrastructure. He ordered the immediate release and utilisation of financial resources to support preparedness operations.
The meeting decided that District Emergency Operation Centres across all 36 districts would remain functional round the clock with duty rosters to ensure an immediate response. Departments were told to complete vulnerability mapping of high-risk areas, Standard Operating Procedure training, and mock exercises by June 15.
Officials reported that daily monitoring of glacial lakes, rivers, and rainfall was underway. A province-wide campaign to clean drains, waterways, culverts, and sewerage lines had cleared 4,099 of 4,802 drains and 598km of over 635km of drainage lines. The chief minister set May 30 as the deadline for completing the remaining work.
The Irrigation Department was instructed to accelerate flood protection works, operationalise telemetry systems, and intensify anti-encroachment operations. So far, 524 of 794 identified encroachments have been removed.
Rescue 1122 informed the meeting that its Monsoon Contingency Plan had been finalised and water rescue points were being established in various districts. Verification of rescue equipment, boats, and pumps must be completed by June 15.
The Health Department was directed to ensure adequate stocks of medicines, IV fluids, anti-snake venom, and ORS. PDMA was tasked with pre-positioning tents, non-food items, and relief materials before the monsoon onset, with continuous assessment of demand for family tents, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, and blankets.
Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Committees have been notified in 1,214 of 1,220 union councils. Identification and preparation of relief camps in schools and CBDRM centres is to be completed by May 25, while the Education Department said its Education Continuity Plan for 185 camp schools was ready.
The meeting also decided to impose Section 144 in flood-prone areas to prohibit bathing and fishing during the monsoon. The Tourism Department reported strengthened safety measures at Swat, Kaghan, Galliyat, Chitral, and Kumrat, with 156 Tourism Police personnel deployed.
Concluding the meeting, the chief minister said all institutions must perform their duties with coordination, responsibility, and professionalism to protect the lives and property of KP residents.
