Dire need for disaster management training, says AJK president

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan lauds Pakistan Red Crescent Society's work in the region

BAGH: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan said on Saturday that there is a dire need to impart disaster management training to the masses.

He made the remarks while speaking at the inauguration of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) office.

Minister for Forests Sardar Mir Akbar Khan, PRCS Chairman of the Azad Kashmir State Branch Sardar Mehmood Khan and its Secretary-General Raja Shoaib were also in attendance on the occasion.

"Ever since the catastrophic earthquake of 2005, the PRCS has helped to educate and create awareness in the public as to how to deal with natural calamities," said the AJK president.

AJK president calls for quality education to achieve national objectives

He thanked the PRCS chairman for launching the School Safety Programme, adding that, "The lion's share of casualties in the 2005 earthquake were from collapsed school buildings and we really needed an initiative where students were enlightened on how to react to a natural disaster."

The AJK president said that in view of the floods and earthquakes the region has seen, it was important to impart training to the Kashmiri people.

Khan also appreciated the PRCS for laying its network in AJK in such a short span of time.

"PRCS setting up its regional office in District Bagh will open up new vistas for the local people, and they would enjoy health facilities," he added.