Dialogue held to assess disaster preparedness in Balochistan

Minister for health and environment appreciates partners for their supportive role towards PDMA, Balochistan

QUETTA: There is a need for capacity building of all line departments in order to meet the challenges stemming from disasters in Balochistan, the environment and health minister says.

“I hope the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), an integral part of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), will contribute in making a disaster-resilient environment for Balochistan and Pakistan,” said Faiz Muhammad Kakar while addressing the Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning (DPRP) Policy Dialogue at Sikander Jamali Auditorium, Civil Secretariat in Quetta held the other day. The event was organised in collaboration with Norwegian Embassy and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Balochistan facilitated the event.



Kakar inaugurated the event as the chief guest.

The senior officers of line departments, besides some important NGOs, INGOs and academia participated in the dialogue.

Dr Syed Ainnudin from Balochistan University, Balochistan EPA DG Captain (retd) Tariq Zehri, Senior Capacity Building Specialist Brig Fiaz Hussain Shah and Engr Syed Muhammad Ayub Shah along with his team represented NIDM and NDMA.

The minister in his opening remarks appreciated the implementation partners, particularly NDMA and WFP, for their supportive role towards PDMA, Balochistan.



He highlighted the need for such dialogues for Balochistan for being a disaster-prone province.

During the dialogue, participants highlighted a number of important aspects related to stakeholders, structures and related instruments.
They appreciated such initiatives of NDMA and PDMA besides contributions by the implementation partners and UN agencies in Pakistan.

The participants expressed that the policy dialogue had provided a valuable platform to all stakeholders to sit, discuss, express and own the objectives set for the country aiming to make a disaster-resilient country.