National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) on Friday launched National Disaster Response Plan 2019 (NDRP-2019).
The updated version of national disaster plan is an extension of the 2010 plan which was devised following massive flooding which resulted in killing almost 2,000 people across Pakistan, injuring thousands, devastating standing crops, livestock and causing multibillion financial losses to the national kitty.
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan speaking as the chief guest said that disaster preparedness is significant for national survival and prosperity. He said that NDMA is taking rights steps at right time as Pakistan has been witnessing regular impacts of climate change since 2010, saying to train and prepare national youth to effectively deal and support local communities in natural calamities and manmade disasters is a significant move by NDMA and partner organisations.
"I will propose Prime Minister Imran Khan to revive National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Girl Guide trainings to prepare our future generations to become proactive and effective members of the society in disasters to save their indigenous population in emergency and disaster like situations," he said.
"We have to learn from our history as the earthquake of 2005 killed 73,000 people, displaced over 3.5 million, whereas the 2010 floods badly damaged infrastructure, caused economical losses and above all killed 1,985 people. Our leadership is on to it, we have will and support at the back of NDMA and other stakeholders for disaster resilient Pakistan. We have a Prime Minister today who himself is an environmentalist," Ali Muhammad Khan said.
"The NDMA has performed well despite its meager available resources and collaboration provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) and district disaster management authority (DDMAs) though they are not equipped and vibrant to the desired level," he added.
"The NDRP-2019 is a very good step towards building disaster resilience against natural and human induced disasters," he added.
Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Omar Mahmood Hayat said that since inception Pakistan has been subject to numerous natural and manmade disasters whereas all disaster management bodies have developed and enhanced their capacities with the growing challenges and nature of disasters.
"The NDMA has improved and technically enhanced early warning system to predict disasters. The NDMA has revised NDRP-2019 after cross-sectoral discussions with all relevant stakeholders and partners where it will welcome valuable feedback to make further improvements as disaster response plans demand up-gradation with the developing disaster scenarios and occurrence."
The NDRP-2019 lays down coordination mechanism for involving UN bodies, public sector, civil society and media in disaster response, the chairman noted.
Member Operations NDMA Brig Mukhtar Ahmed briefed the participants about NRDP-2019 in his presentation. He informed that the revised NDRP-2019 is an updated version of NDRP-2010 and has been formulated to cope with the challenges evolved over the years in environment and disaster management mechanism of the country.