Minister urges NDMA to adopt proactive approach in disaster management

Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal urged National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to adopt a “proactive approach’ to cope with the disaster situation in the future. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries affected by climate change.
The Minister made these remarks during his visit at National Emergencies Operation Center NEOC where he was given a detailed briefing by the Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik.
Speaking at the occasion, the Planning Minister said that in 2022, Pakistan faced an unpreceded devastation due to torrential rains and flooding in most parts of the country which affected 33 million people and economic loss worth $30billion.
In response, the government had devised the Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (4RF) framework, which proposed effective coordination and participation arrangements among federal and provincial governments, development partners, donors, international and national NGOs, and academic and private sectors, explained the minister, while highlighted the key features of 4RF framework after flood 2022 which badly affected the country. “We should adopt a proactive approach when it comes to disaster rehabilitation, disaster management and its preparedness while using the data,” said the minister, while emphasizing the importance of data which must be used.
Pakistan’s carbon emission is less than one per cent; however, it is among the countries that are most vulnerable to climatic disasters. Pakistan pleaded this case before the COP27 and COP 28 respectively.
During the briefing, the minister also underscored that the provinces should ensure that there should be no encroachment alongside the rivers, nullas and streams. Similarly, the Minister highlighted the illegal construction alongside the great threat of flood which must be stopped and the provincial government should ensure complete implementation of its anti-encroachment drive.
Similarly, the minister highlighted how to strengthen the civil defense, scout and other departments particularly in provinces to cope with the disaster situation effectively. The Minister also appreciated NDMA particularly their performance in flood 2022 which remained remarkable. Earlier, each sector of NDMA gave a detailed briefing while highlighting their key achievements which was appreciated by the minister.