President General Pervez Musharraf has emphasised the need for evolving a workable strategy based on an early warning system, preparedness, capability for mass mobilisation and comprehensive response to deal with natural disasters.
The President made these remarks while addressing the participants of the National Defence and Armed Forces War Courses at the National Defence College here on Wednesday.
The participants of the National Defence Course presented a National Strategy Paper on "Crises and Disaster Management." The presentation dealt with various dimensions of crises and disaster management in Pakistan. It analysed the contemporary international models of crisis and disaster management and their applicability in Pakistan's environment.
The President, in his address, dilated upon the 8th October 2005 earthquake and measures taken to deal with the natural calamity of unprecedented magnitude to strike the country.
Pakistan's response to the natural calamity of unprecedented proportions was rapid, well co-ordinated and effective, he said. In this connection, he thanked the donor organisations and the unprecedented response of the local population for the relief of the quake victims.
He paid rich tributes to the Pakistan Armed Forces and said the strategy followed by Pakistan to deal with the situation has been appreciated and described by the international agencies as a textbook model to be emulated by others.
President Musharraf said to deal with a crisis situation it was essential for the leadership to remain calm and not panic, not point fingers at others, show patience and compassion, do the right thing the first time and respond decisively.
General Pervez Musharraf said the future crisis management model should be sustainable, cost-effective and must have a balance in both pre and post-disaster capabilities. It should have focus on capacity building of existing organisations and optimum utilisation of indigenous capabilities.
He said the proposal of the panel for a central authority to integrate the available infrastructure and resources is an appreciable and workable formula. The proposed recommendations will be forwarded to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for evaluation and incorporation as deemed appropriate.
He said such an authority should be based on a small nucleus having required basic elements of early warning, preparedness, mass mobilisation capability and comprehensive response.
He said the lesson learnt from this natural disaster was that magnitude and timings of natural disaster could not be predicted. He said response to any disaster must be tailored according to the specific requirements of a specific disaster.
General Pervez Musharraf said there is need for well-equipped relief teams, effective institutions for dealing with disasters and capacity of interface of national institutions with foreign aid agencies.
The national strategy paper, presented by the participants, also dealt with existing national structures for disaster management and role of Armed Forces in this regard and presented a model for Crisis and Disaster Management in the country in future.
The research group presented this study after having examined the management of recent earthquake in the country. These conclusions were more pertinent and related to own environment.
It is also worth mentioning that the National Defence Course this year conducted its final war game named Exercise Qaumi Baqa on Crisis and Disaster Management. Hence the paper presented was comprehensive and rich in content. The model is a strategic concept and proposes restructuring of existing organisations with emphasis on capacity building and integrating them into a central authority.
Other points of the model include operationalising disaster management authority, preparedness and capability of mass mobilisation for timely and comprehensive response and striking a balance between civil and military infrastructures for effective disaster management.
The presentation was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians, commandant National Defence College, senior civil and military officials.
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