KARACHI: The newly appointed Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh on Rehabilitation Gyanchand Essarani held his first official meeting with officials of the Rehabilitation Department (RD), during which he was briefed on the operational framework, recent initiatives, and challenges faced by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Sindh (PDMA) and Rescue 1122.
The meeting, held at the Secretary Rehabilitation Department’s office, was attended by Secretary Rehabilitation Akhter Hussain Bugti, Director General PDMA Syed Salman Shah, Director General Rescue 1122 Sabghatullah Wajid, Additional Secretary Nazeer Soomro, and Director Finance PDMA Shah Hussain along with other senior officials of the department.
DG PDMA briefed the Advisor on the overall structure and strategic operations of the authority.
He said that PDMA’s headquarters is based in Karachi, supported by three fully functional warehouses located in Karachi, Jamshoro, and Sukkur to ensure quick deployment of emergency supplies.
Salman Shah informed the Advisor that the department is in the process of establishing a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Wing, which will further bolster the authority’s capacity in disaster preparedness, rescue operations, and rehabilitation efforts.
He highlighted the department’s effective coordination and field response during the recent monsoon spells in Karachi and its active participation in the Provincial Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell. “PDMA’s staff and machinery were fully mobilized during the recent rain in Karachi, allowing for swift drainage and relief efforts,” he noted.
Speaking on behalf of Rescue 1122, DG Sabghatullah Wajid gave an overview of the emergency service’s ongoing work.
He stated that Rescue 1122 currently responds to fire incidents, water rescues, and road traffic accidents across several districts of the province.
“We are presently operating a central control room in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi,” he said.
“However, to expand our operational footprint, we are setting up three additional control rooms in Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Nawabshah. Rescue 1122 currently operates in 14 districts, while construction of six more offices is underway in other locations.”
The Advisor appreciated the performance of both PDMA and Rescue 1122, lauding their commitment in the face of natural disasters and emergencies.
He acknowledged the Sindh Government’s efforts to improve disaster response infrastructure and pledged to personally oversee operations in the coming weeks.
“The Sindh Government and the Rehabilitation Department are working hard to ensure timely relief and support for the people of this province. I appreciate the dedication of the teams on ground, and I will soon begin visiting the wings and field offices of the department to personally review operations and address any gaps,” the Advisor stated.
Officials noted that future coordination between all relevant wings and departments will be critical in improving the province’s capacity to respond to both natural and man-made emergencies.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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