QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri on Wednesday ordered imposition of emergency in calamity-hit districts of Balochistan in the wake of heavy snow and rains and directed authorities to expedite the relief efforts in the said districts.

During a high profile meeting to review the restoration of blocked roads and highways, CM took the decision to impose emergency in Mastung, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Harnai and Ziarat and directed Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administration to make the relief efforts more effective.

He also directed the administration to prepare a report of the losses and present it to the CM and approved release of 150 million rupees to PDMA immediately for relief efforts, provision of tents, blankets and edible items.

Provincial Ministers Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, Ubaidullah Jan Babat, Muhammad Khan Lehri, MPA Abdul Kareem Nosherwani, Senior MBR, Secretary Home, Secretary Agriculture, Telecommunication, IG Police, Secretary Finance, DG PDMA, Commissioner Quetta Division, Chief Executive QESCO and NHA authorities were in the meeting.

The participants of the meeting were told that the areas where communication lines were still blocked, relief was carried their through helicopters. It was decided during the meeting that PDMA would work on provincial level while Commissioner on divisional and Deputy Commissioner would supervise the relief works at district level.

The role of the administration, Levies, FC and other concerned departments was appreciated for unblocking the blocked roads and highways and carrying out relief works. It was deplored that despite 60 per cent national highways in Balochistan, no sufficient machinery and equipment were available with the provincial government to respond to calamitous situation and it was decided that the matter would be taken up with the federal government.

CM also directed QESCO to restore electricity in the all calamity-hit areas and directed district administration to fully cooperate with the QESCO in this regard.

Appreciating the efforts of commissioners, DCs, PDMA and all concerned departments, CM said that it was the manifestation of good governance, adding that all the Commissioners and DCs worked round the clock to restore communication lines from Kalat to Lackpass, Muslim Bagh to Kan Mehterzai, Koxak Pass to Kolpur which is a living examples of dutifulness. CM said that provincial minister would bring all in-hand resources in use to meet with the calamitous situation.

Meanwhile, Provincial Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has said that aid and edible items have continuously been dispatched to affected areas in the wake of snowfall in Balochistan.

Addressing to a press Conference at Quetta Press Club, he said that estimates would be made after survey in the affected areas and financial assistance would also be provided to the affected people, adding that government would providing all possible assistance to the affected people despite meager resources at hand. He said that such a snowfall had been after 26 years in Balochistan and 200 million rupees have been released for relief works from the PDMA office. He said that emergency has been imposed in PDMA and the leaves of the employees have been cancelled, adding that 6 highways of 3 divisions of the province have fully been cleared, adding that all the departments showed fullest efficiency in relief efforts.

He said that two helicopters were provided by the Home Ministry for relief efforts and many people were rescued through helicopters in Harboi area of Kalat by Southern Command. He said that relief efforts were underway to rescue people stuck in Dasht, adding that following which rescue efforts would be carried out in Toba Achakzai and Killa Abdullah.