Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has cautioned people to brace themselves for season’s first heatwave in various cities of Punjab, and also waned of the possibility of forest fires due to intense heatwave, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Under the direction of Director General PDMA Tariq Mehmood Bukhari, an important meeting was held in the committee room on heatwave and forest fire under the chairmanship of Director Coordination. The meeting was attended by Director South Hameedullah Malik, Civil Defence, Forests, Agriculture, Education, Local Government Industries, and CDA Bahawalpur officers. Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioners Rahim Yar Khan and officers of other districts, including Bhakkar, participated in the meeting through video link.

Director PDMA directed all the concerned departments to submit their plans to PDMA for the prevention and management of heatwave-related the adverse effects. 

Moreover, PDMA also asked the details of the examination schedule of students from the Education Department.

The DG PDMA emphasised that the Forestry Department should form special teams to avoid forest fires and submit a report. He warned that owing to climate change, the intensity of heatwaves and heat may grow and forests may experience fires.

Similarly, special instructions have also been issued to the health department and other related department to fight heatwave. 

He further warned that situation may grave because children and elderly people are likely to be affected by the heatwave and advised people to follow preventive measures to stay safe.