National Disaster Management Authority held a one-day meeting here on Saturday to discuss the operationalisation of District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in high-risk districts of the country. District Co-ordination Officers (DCOs) of the nine high risk districts and district Disaster Risk Management Co-ordinators participated in the meeting.
These districts were already earmarked by NDMA on the bases of vulnerabilities and hazards they face which may result in disasters. These districts include Haripur, Charsada, Jhang, Rajanpur, Sialkot, Thatta, Badin, Gawadar and Gilgit. In the meeting, the DCOs made presentation focusing on the steps taken during 2009 for operationalisation of District Disaster Management Authorities in their respective districts.
The meeting also focused on the challenges faced by district authorities and their future plans regarding the disaster management system in the participating districts. The main challenges highlighted in the meeting were budget, capacity building and equipment needed in any emergency situation.
Senior Member NDMA Shaukat Nawaz Tahir, who also chaired the meeting, assured the participants to extend NDMA's support through their respective PDMAs in overcoming these challenges. The chair emphasised upon the district government officials to focus on planning, preparedness and mitigation in their respective districts to establish an effective disaster management system at local level.
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