KARACHI - The government should strengthen early warning mechanisms at district-level to mitigate losses of possible rains and flood devastation in Sindh.This was observed by participants of district-level consultative workshop titled ‘Status of Contingency Planning in Districts’ jointly organised by Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and Oxfam Novib held at a local hotel here the other day. The speakers were of the opinion that in case of possible rains and floods, there was no mechanism at district-level which could early inform the locals in rural areas. The speakers said that due to weak early warning system, communities are not informed and they lose their livelihoods and are unable to move at safer places in Dadu and other districts. They further said that district administration can strengthen early warning system at villages in district by involving non-government organisations and even recruit volunteers. They flayed government for not repairing all breaches of canals and embankments which were damaged during 2010 super flood. Saleem Abbasi from the PDI said that in 2012 disaster contingency operation plan , scenarios and targeted population has not been defined by district government and has not yet prepared inventories and rosters .He added that during 2012, Dadu District has witnessed the worst flood experience and in 2012 Disaster Contingency Plan district administration not mentioned low-lying and surface places. He added that district administration made 2012 Disaster Contingency Plan without consultation of civil society representatives.Participants of workshop demanded transparency in construction work and repair of damaged canals and said that due to poor and sub-standard work done by Irrigation Department, people have apprehensions and fears that they would face server rain or flood devastation. Child Development Organisation, Village Shahabad Organisation, Aurat Foundation and other non-government organisations representatives participated in workshop.‘NAWAZ, ZARDARI ARE DICTATORS IN REAL SENSE’: Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser of All Pakistan Muslim League Sindh, Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli has said Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are dictators in real sense who have established dictatorship in their parties.According to APML statement issued here the other day, Sardar Mustafa Khaskheli stated this while talking to hundreds of workers of PML-N, PML-Q and other political parties, hailing from Karachi, who announced joining APML and expressed confidence in the leadership of ex President Pervez Musharraf. A large number of female political workers were among them. Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli said only Pervez Musharraf is leader who can retrench the country and masses from the poor economic and law and order situation. He said Pervez Musharraf think about Pakistan and 180 million people of Pakistan even that he is sitting in abroad. He told APML workers that he visited all districts of Sindh and thousands of workers of PML-N, PML-Q and other parties joined APML because they think Pervez Musharraf is only the leader who can put Pakistan back on track of development. Sardar Ghulam Mustafa Khaskheli said APML will soon inaugurate its offices in 12 districts of Sindh and six towns of Karachi. APML will emerge as the strong and organized party in the coming days, he added.General Secretary APML Sindh Shahid Qureshi addressed the ceremony welcomed the incumbent party workers. Agha Afsar, Qirat Zaidi, Mustafa Namakwalay, Aasim Ishtiaq, Syed Wajahat Shah, Amber Naeem, Allah Rakhio Khaskheli, Hanif Warsi and other leaders and workers were present.