Pakistan, Turkey to intensify disaster management collaboration

ANKARA: Pakistan and Turkey would work together to further intensify mutual collaboration in the field of disaster management.

This was agreed during the meeting between National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt General Omar Mahmood Hayat and President of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in Ankara Dr Mehmet on Monday.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi also attended the meeting.

Both sides agreed to work on a number of initiatives, including sharing of experiences and knowledge in disaster management, training of experts, joint exercises, hosting of a joint conference, and high-level exchanges to intensify cooperation, bilaterally and in the wider regional context.

Dr Mehmet gave a comprehensive briefing about AFAD, its objectives, initiatives, projects, and plans for meeting various kinds of emergencies at home and abroad.

Referring to his early visits to Pakistan, he said I felt at home while in Pakistan and showed his keen desire to develop institutional linkages with the NDMA.

NDMA Chairman conveyed a deep appreciation for Turkey’s assistance for relief and rehabilitation operations during the 2005 earthquake and the devastating 2010 floods in Pakistan.

He underlined that given its extreme vulnerability to large-scale recurring natural disasters, the government of Pakistan had strengthened its indigenous response mechanisms to natural disasters.

Lt Gen Hayat visited the AFAD Training Centre in Ankara and appreciated the high-quality training being provided to the participants.