ISLAMABAD: A World Bank team called on Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik. The two sides discussed various aspects of disaster management system as well as the sustainable disaster risk reduction models to protect vulnerable communities.
The NDMA chairman informed the visiting team about the creation of National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) as national think tank on emergencies’ spectrum. He shared that it will be mandated to create a system of national universities and international organizations for research on climate change and disaster risk management in Pakistan.
Artificial Intelligence based NEOC
NDMA Chairman highlighted a transformative idea of an artificial intelligence-based National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) at NDMA as a leading forum for managing, collating and disseminating critical information pertaining to disaster predictions, early warnings and preventive measures and generating ‘common operating picture’ for preparedness of all relevant departments for proactive response and simulation exercises in advance.
He emphasized on conducting the training programs for emergency responders and volunteers along with maintenance of their database for their active engagement in future during emergency.
Both sides agreed to form a working group of NDMA and WB to chalk out collaborative framework for building climate-resilient communities in Pakistan.
He discussed the technology-driven Remodeled National Preparedness and Response System and scoping of NIDM for tackling climate-induced multiple hazards in the country.
Flood Relief
Also, Dr Luay Shabaneh, representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Pakistan, in a meeting with the NDMA chairman apprised him of UNFPA’s ongoing humanitarian assistance projects in flood-ravaged areas of Pakistan and advocacy programmes for gender-based awareness towards disaster recovery.
The NDMA chairman acknowledged the humanitarian interventions by UNFPA during floods 2022 and underscored the need of fostering authentic database for decision-making, planning and designing tangible goals for disaster management.
Both sides highlighted the need for conducting gap analysis of humanitarian interventions during floods 2022 and consequently reinforcing the shared vision of urgent human security benchmarks related to climate change, especially in remote areas.
They also agreed upon extending the cooperation to maximize the impact reach of disaster mitigation and response in hazard-prone areas.
