This was decided in a high-level meeting here on Thursday, presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman. It reviewed performance of Civil Defence Department after devolution and decided that the secretary local bodies would take action regarding posting of officers and staff in civil defence departments of all districts under the devolution plan and SLGO and submit a report in this regard within 15 days.
The meeting decided that all districts of the province would get a district officer (civil defence) on the pattern of Karachi and a notification in this regard would be issued soon. It was also decided that the respective district governments would have powers of posting, administration and discipline of the devolved staff in their jurisdictions.
The meeting decided that the civil defence staff would wear the prescribed uniform, while devolution of this department would be completed on the pattern of other devolved departments, proper co-ordination amongst all concerned departments would be ensured, so that the civil defence department could function in an efficient manner.
On a proposal floated by Secretary Culture and Social Welfare, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, it was decided that the department would impart civil defence training to volunteers of social organisations.
The chief secretary, during the meeting, took notice of open manholes in the city and ordered Provincial Secretary for Local Bodies and DCO Karachi to ensure covering of all manholes, besides repairing broken manholes and drains. The DCO directed a survey in this regard and added that there should be no open manhole in the city.
Secretaries Home, Local Government, Culture and Social Welfare, Agriculture, Irrigation and Power, Works and Services, Health, Director Civil Defence were present.