Military continues relief efforts to control fire
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday convened an emergency meeting on a forest fire in the Sherani District of Balochistan.
During the meeting, the prime minister briefed that the fire that started on May 12 had been brought under control but it started again on May 20 due to hot and dry weather. He directed the federal and provincial departments to control the situation.
“National Disaster Management Authority is in contact with the governmental departments, forest department, local government and Provincial Disaster Management Authority regarding the matter,” said the premier, adding that the NDMA has set up relief camps and offices and steps are being taken to speed up the relief activities.
Expressing sorrow over the loss of three lives and the injuries faced by four persons, PM Shehbaz said that the country does not have the resources and expertise to deal with this kind of situation. “I hope that the situation will be managed through the efforts of the departments concerned and the Pakistan Army,” he added.
The premier said that precautionary measures will be taken to protect the forests of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and the federal government will be contacted in this regard. He added that a helicopter should be arranged to manage the situation immediately.
In this regard, the PM also directed the task force to control the situation and speed up relief operations.
Talking about the issue, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo informed that further steps are being taken to control the situation, and added that the fire has been controlled to a great extent.
