KARACHI:
Pakistan has witnessed a significant rise in natural disasters over the past decade, with floods, earthquakes and extreme weather patterns increasingly disrupting lives and livelihoods. These disasters not only destroy infrastructure but also place millions, especially children, in grave danger. Yet, disaster management remains largely absent from our education system — a gap that urgently needs to be addressed.
Disaster education is not merely about theoretical knowledge; it is about building practical skills that save lives. Globally, research has shown that people trained in disaster response can protect themselves and assist others effectively. Japan is a prime example where school-based disaster drills have drastically reduced fatalities during earthquakes and tsunamis.
In Pakistan, the devastating floods of recent years have wreaked havoc across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. Homes have been swept away, families displaced and outbreaks of disease followed in their wake. Yet, if communities, particularly schoolchildren, had been better trained in emergency response, countless lives and resources could have been saved.
Children represent one of the most vulnerable segments of society in crises. International reports indicate that nearly one billion children live in earthquake-prone regions and around 175 million are affected by climate-induced disasters every year. Their limited ability to make decisions during emergencies makes them highly dependent on adults. However, with proper disaster education, even children can learn how to act decisively whether it be evacuating safely, administering first aid or alerting others to danger.
To address this urgent need, disaster management training should be integrated into school and college curricula. Such programmes can include evacuation drills, first aid workshops, basic survival techniques and training in using early warning systems. Educational institutions should collaborate with rescue organisations such as Rescue 1122, JDC Foundation and other NGOs already conducting awareness programmes. Their expertise can guide the development of a standardised training framework across the country.
It is time for policymakers to move beyond temporary relief measures and invest in long-term safety through education. Integrating disaster management into the curriculum is not just a precaution; it is a responsibility toward our future generations.
Syed Oun Abbas
Karachi
