Biparjoy: PM Shehbaz Sharif forms 14-member emergency committee

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday formed a 14-member emergency committee to tackle the possible impacts of cyclone Biparjoy, which is likely to hit the Sindh coastline tomorrow, ARY News reported.

The committee includes Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir, IT Minister Ameenul Haq, Sindh local govt minister Nasir Hussain Shah, NDMA chairman, Sindh and Balochistan chief secretaries, secretary petroleum division, secretary power division, secretary national food security, and DG Met department.

The committee will work on an emergency basis to ensure the safety of people during the cyclonic storm, the statement issued PM office read.

Furthermore, the 14-member emergency committee will determine the possible loss and damages in case cyclone Biparjoy hits Sindh’s coastal belt.

سمندری طوفان بپر جوائے کے کیٹی بندر سے ٹکراؤ کے امکانات کے باعث تمام متعلقہ حکومتی ادارے لوگوں کے پیشگی ریسکیو یقینی بنا رہے ہیں. میں نے ہدایت کر دی ہے ساحلی علاقوں میں رہنے والے پچاس ہزار سے زائد لوگوں کو حفاظتی مقامات تک پہنچایا جائے جہاں انکو پینے کا صاف پانی اور خوراک کے…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 14, 2023

In a similar meeting held yesterday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the Sindh government, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other relevant organisations to utilise all-out resources to ensure people’s protection keeping in view the cyclone Biparjoy.

The prime minister, who chaired a meeting to review the preparedness ahead of the possible impact of the Biparjoy cyclone, asked the Sindh government, NDMA and other organisations to ensure the establishment of mobile hospitals in coastal areas and provide adequate emergency medical assistance there.

The prime minister instructed Power Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan to ensure his presence in the districts of southern Sindh until the effects of the cyclone were over, to monitor the 24-hour power transmission system in the coastal areas.

Cyclone 350km away from Karachi

Arabian Sea Cyclone Biparjoy, which has now weakened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, will landfall between Sindh and India’s Gujarat coast on Thursday noon or evening.

Cyclone Biparjoy has been at a distance of 340km south- southwest of Karachi, 355km south- southwest of Thatta and 275km south- southwest of Keti Bandar, Met Office said.

Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160 Km/hour gusts 180 Km/hour around the system center and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system center with maximum wave height 30 feet.

Under the existing upper-level steering winds, cyclone Biparjoy is now likely to recurve North- northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar (Southeast Sindh) and Indian Gujarat coast on 15 June afternoon/evening as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with packing winds of 100-120 Km/hour gusting 140 km/hour.

The cyclonic storm will bring heavy rainfall in Tharparkar, Badin, Sujawal and Umarkot districts of Sindh, weather department said.

International media reports said that the Arabian Sea cyclone will landfall on Thursday noon near Jakhau Port at Gujarat coast.

A weather alert said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with high intensity winds of 80-100Km/hour likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts during June 13-17.