NDMA, PMD to be merged into MoCC

Authorities directed to include climate risk component in mega project PC-1s

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Monday said a summary has been forwarded to the prime minister to integrate National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) into Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC).

He was addressing the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change held in Islamabad with Senator Sitara Ayaz in the chair. He said 80 per cent of the disasters faced by the country are rendered by climate change.

However, keeping in view the disaster risk to the country it was necessary to have a unified umbrella to deal with the lurking climate change impacts and threats. PMD, he said, had required moderation in line with the developing trends and climatic risks faced by the country.

Therefore, Prime Minister Imran Khan had decided to shift PMD from Aviation Division to the MoCC, he added.  Aslam said the international researches claimed that poor infrastructure development was the leading cause behind 90 per cent of losses that occurred during natural disasters and extreme climate change.

"We have written to the Ministry of Planning and Development to include climate risk component in the project concepts (PC-1) of every megaproject to ensure climate and disaster risk resilience," he added. The adviser briefed the committee on the ministry's performance and ongoing projects being taken up since the past one year. State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said the public response on plastic bags was commendable and the ministry would take strict action against people who were illegally distributing fake bio-degradable plastic bags.

NDMA Disaster Risk Reduction Member Idris Mehsud delivered a detailed presentation on disaster management and risk reduction initiatives and impending risks to the country. He also informed the committee regarding timely measures and stock of relief items to assist the communities in disaster.

However, the chairperson Sitara Ayaz and members of the committee expressed their resentment over the absence of Islamabad mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman.

However, the committee recommended merging ERRA and other emergency response bodies into NDMA, Parliamentarians Caucus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to be made active and its regular meetings should be held.  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2019.