The Sindh government has moved towards a major overhaul of its emergency response system, with a high-level meeting on Monday deliberating the reorganisation and improvement of rescue and emergency services across the province, and proposing the creation of a centralised and autonomous rescue authority.
The meeting was chaired by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, who stressed the urgent need to bring all rescue-related institutions under one umbrella to ensure a more coordinated, efficient and effective response during emergencies and disasters. The meeting had been convened to review the existing rescue framework and explore ways to strengthen operational coordination among departments involved in emergency response, relief and rehabilitation.
The rehabilitation secretary briefed the meeting on the current rescue arrangements and emergency measures in place. The meeting then held a detailed and constructive discussion on rescue operations, with several proposals and recommendations presented for institutional reform.
Lanjar proposed that all rescue institutions work under a single platform, saying that the province needs a dedicated authority for delivering swift and effective rescue services. “There should be a proper authority for the best and most effective rescue operations,” he said, adding that all the relevant agencies should function through that authority. He stressed that the proposed body must be autonomous to perform efficiently.
He noted that relief operations follow rescue efforts, making it essential to establish a streamlined and integrated system capable of responding to disasters and emergencies in a timely and organised manner.
He ordered that formal recommendations regarding the establishment of the rescue authority be compiled and submitted to the committee at the earliest, after which they would be forwarded to the chief minister for consideration.
Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the proposed authority’s SOP should be developed along the lines of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, adding that the institution would need to be strengthened to function effectively and emerge as a model organisation.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also supported the proposal, stressing that the authority should operate under a one-window system. He suggested that procurement and recruitment be centralised, while all matters be handled under the umbrella of the provincial government.
CM’s adviser on rehabilitation Gyanchand Essrani underscored the need for rescue and relief work to be carried out in a structured and mutually coordinated manner, while Sindh police chief Javed Alam Odho said law enforcement authorities continue to support rescue efforts in the event of accidents and emergencies. The proposed authority, if approved, is expected to mark a significant step towards building a more responsive, integrated and professional emergency management system in Sindh.
