Karachi: Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Sindh government has initiated emergency measures in view of the threat of a possible superflood.

He said that the Sindh Chief Minister himself has inspected sensitive dams including Guddu and Sukkur Barrage, where in the event of a superflood, 900,000 cusecs of water pressure can be expected. The government’s first priority is to protect human lives, livestock and barrages.

In a statement, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the district administration, PDMA, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Army are busy making evacuation and relief arrangements, while 192 boats have been deployed in the Kachha areas for timely evacuation.

He said that the survey of all the Kachha areas has been completed and maps of the population, houses and livestock have been provided to the district administration. Arrangements are complete to shift thousands of families to safe places, government schools, buildings and tent city villages, while food, water and health facilities are being provided in relief camps.

Sharjeel Memon further said that the Sindh Chief Minister has directed all sensitive dams to speed up flood fighting and respond immediately to any emergency situation. Machinery, stones and staff have been deployed at KK Dam, Shaheen Dam, Qadirpur, Rawanti and other sensitive places and officers are on 24-hour surveillance.

He said that this is not just a test of the government or the administration but a common test of all of us. President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are personally monitoring the situation, while party workers have been instructed to help the victims.

The senior minister appealed to the public and the media to cooperate with the administration instead of spreading rumors and fear.