ISLAMABAD: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Omar Mahmood Hayat on Tuesday said that deliberations will help NDMA and other stakeholders in preparing an optimum future plan to handle disasters.
Addressing a National Post-Monsoon 2017 Review Conference, he said, “Catastrophic events, mainly floods, present a major challenge for Pakistan. The super floods of 2010 killed over 200 people, besides incurring financial losses worth billions of dollars on the national exchequer.”
Representatives from Pakistan Meteorological Department, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Azad Jammu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) Gilgit Baltistan, FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Federal Flood Commission, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) (for both Mangla and Tarbela dams) National Highways Authority and GHQ Engineers Directorate participated in the conference.
The chairman said that, “Although we have come a long way and stand at a much better position today than in 2010/2011, still there are gaps which need to be addressed and the government has been adopting various measures at different levels to fill the gaps which were identified during the disasters.”
“Consolidating the losses and experiences of the conference, the discussion has provided us with a more refined input to make preparations for this year’s monsoon season” he added.
He said that NDMA acknowledged the valued input, recommendations and experiences rendered by respected participants in the conference which would be evaluated for incorporation in our future guidelines.
Omer Hayat further said that, “Disaster management mechanisms of the country will approach the coming monsoon season with confidence and professionalism in close collaboration with all stakeholders at national/provincial levels, the United Nations and other developmental partners.”
While briefing the participants, the representative of NDMA said that during 2017 monsoon season, NDMA had issued timely SMSs to areas most susceptible to floods in an effort to save precious lives and properties.
He said that about 232 deaths were reported from various parts of the country during last year’s monsoon season, adding that compensation money had already been distributed among the affected people.
He suggested to the officials concerned to remove encroachments along the nullahs to avoid any problems during monsoon rains. He also said that emergency response centre established by the NDMA was working round-the-clock to handle any disaster.
The representative of the Pakistan Meteorological Department said that seasonal forecast was very difficult to issue. However, he said that issuing weather forecast for five to seven days was doable.
The representative of PDMA Punjab said that 121 deaths had been reported during last year’s monsoon and around 243 people were injured. Around 132 villages were also affected due to rains, he added. He further said that compensation among the relatives of 119 dead had been distributed by the Punjab government.
The representative of the PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that no damage had occurred during 2017 monsoon season as rainfall was observed to be below average in the province. Furthermore, the representative of SDMA Azad Jammu Kashmir said that about 13 deaths were reported during 2017 monsoon.
Moreover, GDMA Gilgit Baltistan representative said that a total of eight deaths were reported, while 11 people received injuries, adding that at least 171 houses were also damaged due to rains. He informed that due to financial constraints, no compensation had been paid to the injured and owners of damaged houses. PDMA representative of Sindh said that the previous monsoon season claimed six lives in the province, injured five and damaged 28 houses.
FDMA Federally Administered Tribal Areas representative said that a total of eight deaths were reported in the area. He said compensation had been paid to the families of the deceased and injured, along with owners of damaged houses.
