KARACHI – The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is expected to complete the reviewing process of its provincial plan by the end of May, for sensitising stakeholders on organising disaster-management tasks thematically on foolproof scientific basis.
In order to do so it is essentially important to build the capacity of the officers working at provincial and district levels by imparting training in key areas including emergency information management system; radiological emergency response; coastal areas emergency response; structural evaluation for seismic safety in schools and hospitals; and handling mass casualties
This was disclosed in a letter dated March 7 by the PDMA Sindh Operations Assistant Director responding to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) C&IM Director, in reference to the latter’s letter No NDMA UO No 1(40)/2010-NDMA(C&IM), dated March 4.
Moreover, the letter stated that the district-level officers were imparted information technology training to develop their skills and capacity for the smooth transmission of information between the PDMA and district disaster management authorities.
After the Ashura and Chehlum blasts, which witnessed absence of any well-designed mechanism for on-site coordination, a workshop on handling of mass casualties was organized by the PDMA Sindh on February 20, 2010, in which representatives from federal, provincial and private hospitals, ambulance services, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces shared their views and recommended designing an institutionalised apparatus for handling mass casualties.
The PDMA organised a two-day training course on cardiac first responder in collaboration with a training institute named Disaster Relief by Irish and Pakistanis (DRIP). As many as 27 participants from district offices, LEAs, civil defence, armed forces were imparted training with a view to develop trainers, who would subsequently impart training in their respective districts and departments.
The PDMA Sindh also worked in collaboration with UNESCO and NED University for developing an action plan for safe schools and educational buildings in coastal areas of Sindh. A consultative session was organised on March 31, 2010 aimed at highlighting safety at schools, development of an outline for provincial plan of action for schools covering engineering and non-engineering aspects, and action plans for the future.
Subsequently, the authority with assistance from NED University initiated imparting training to engineers and sub-engineers of Sindh Works and Services Department and called nominations thereof, but the same were not furnished.
The PDMA Sindh in coordination with Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) also evolved the KANUPP Off-site Radiological Emergency Plan (KOFREP) to handle a radiological emergency aimed at minimising radiological hazards. Mock drills and tabletop exercises were carried out under the supervision of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, which included evacuation of nearby communities and shifting them to safer places, traffic blockage to and from the nuclear facility, etc.
Moreover, the Sindh Board of Revenue Relief Department is mandated to financially assist those affected (life, property) by a calamity and likewise, the flood survivors are entitled for damage compensation from the provincial government as admissible under Section 3 of Sindh National Calamities (P&R) Act 1958. In this context, the matter of compensation/relief package was taken up with the Additional Relief Commissioner for seeking suggestions with regards to guidelines for minimum standard of relief for the survivors.
The letter further disclosed that the PDMA Sindh does not have a fund for disaster management, but it is in the process of preparation of annual report for the provincial parliament.
Meanwhile, as regards to the gazetted notification of the establishment of Provincial Disaster Management Commission (PDMC), it was stated that no meeting of the PDMC has been held to date.
