Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah convened an emergency huddle at his office to review flood preparedness measures ahead of the anticipated surge at Guddu Barrage between September 3 and 4. The meeting convened following forecast of heavy rainfall across Sindh and an expected inflow of 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs of water into the barrage.
Attendees at the meeting included key provincial ministers, including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Jam Khan Shoro, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, and Jam Ikram Dharejo. Also present were Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, CM Secretary Rahim Sheikh, Rehabilitation Secretary Akhtar Bugti, and PDMA Director General Salman Shah. Divisional commissioners and DIGs participated via video link.
Briefing the CM, representatives from the Irrigation Department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that the impending flood surge could impact over 52,000 families across the province. In preparation, 72 rescue boats have been deployed in northern districts, while 106 boats are stationed in southern areas. Similarly, more than 30,000 Rescue 1122 personnel are deployed in vulnerable zones.
Shah directed the immediate dispatch of rescue boats to the most affected districts, including six boats for Sukkur, and four each for Ghotki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Naushahro Feroze, and Dadu. Shaheed Benazirabad has been allocated three boats. Rescue teams are set to patrol the river stretch from Sukkur to Dadu to ensure prompt response.
The Pakistan Navy has also placed 26 boats on standby to support relief operations if required. Reviewing PDMA’s stockpile, CM Shah was assured of sufficient supplies such as mosquito nets and first aid kits.
