The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked the authorities concerned across the country to chalk out comprehensive planning pertaining to handling disasters apart from regularly holding meetings of District Disaster Management Committees.
National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Dr Zafar Iqbal Qadir said this while speaking at the first session of a two-day workshop at a local hotel on Friday. DG Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab Khalid Sherdil, Flood Relief Commissioner Punjab and representatives of UNDP, WFP, Unicef and various NGOs attended the workshop.
Dr Zafar said that preparations need to ensure, on the basis of planning, that sufficient resources could be managed in case of calamity. He said a report should be prepared about available resources and the same may be sent to NDMA so that resources may be provided where there is shortage in this respect.
He said that instructions have already been issued for making comprehensive planning in respect of disaster management at district level while district governments have been directed to allocate funds for disaster management on regular basis under their annual development program so that in case of emergency there is prompt response. He said that after initiation of relief measures at local level on self-help basis, emergency could be handled in a better way. He said that instructions have also been issued to hold meetings of District Disaster Management Committees to make the preparations and chalk out plans on regular basis.
Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab Khalid Sherdil said the PDMA distributed relief goods worth over Rs 700 million among the flood affectees in year 2010 while Rs 165 million have so far been allocated for construction of 22 'model villages' and work is still in progress in this respect.
Under the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he said, Watan Cards involving an amount of Rs 27.6 million were distributed among flood affectees. He said that relief goods were also sent for the affectees of earthquake in Turkey while relief goods of Rs 650 million were distributed among the flood affectees of Sindh. He said that Provincial Disaster Management Authority has funds of Rs 200 million, out of which an amount can be provided in case of some emergency and disaster.
He said that plans should be prepared at district level to confront and combat any kind of calamity or disaster. He added that calamity like flood, earthquake and storms though occur casually, yet preparations for such emergency is much needed and done in advance and well before the time.
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